Saturday July 13, 2013 (foodconsumer.org) -- If you as a teen need to eat some meat, you would be better off eating poultry instead of red meat because eating poultry is associated with a lower risk of colorectal cancer, a new study shows

The study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology shows that women as adolescents ate more poultry were at a lower risk for colorectal cancer or colorectal adenomas later in life, compared with those eating less poultry.  The difference in the risk was 20%.

The study led by Katharina Nimptsch from Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, MA and colleagues also found the risk reduction was particularly significant for distal (29%), rectal (49%), and advanced (40%) colorectal cancer. 

Additionally, replacement of one serving per day of red meat with one serving per day of poultry or fish was found associated with 41% and 35% lower risks for rectal adenomas and advanced colorectal adenomas, respectively.

No associations were found between eating red meat and fish and the risk of colorectal cancer.  But other evidence from the same study shows that fish and poultry pose a lower risk than red meat.

The data used for the study came from19,771 women participating in the Nurses' Health Study II.  The subjects had completed a validated food frequency questionnaire in 1998 when they were aged 34–51 years.

The best foods to eat to prevent colorectal cancer is eat little meat and lots of high fiber vegetables and grains, which can also prevent heart disease and diabetes in addition to various forms of cancer. (reporting by David Liu, PHD)