(NaturalNews) According to new scientific studies, one sausage a day increases our chance of bowel cancer by 20%. It only takes 1.8oz (50g) of processed meat daily to significantly increase our risk of this deadly type of cancer.

Prof Martin Wiseman, the medical and scientific adviser for the World Cancer Research Fund, said there was convincing evidence of a link between processed meats and cancer.

Processed meat is preserved by smoking, curing, salting or the adding of preservatives. Other processed meats include ham, bacon, pastrami, salami, and hot dogs.

A diet of hamburgers and minced meat that are preserved with salt or chemical additives may also be cancer causing. The evidence is also convincing that eating other meats such as beef, pork and lamb can cause bowel cancer, though not as much as preserved meat.

Besides lung cancer, bowel cancer is the most lethal form of cancer. 1 in 20 people develop bowel cancer.

Prof Wiseman said, "We are more sure now than ever before that eating processed meat increases our risk of bowel cancer. Whether it is bacon or ham, the safest amount to eat is none at all."

Other things we can do to prevent Bowel Cancer?

Besides cutting out the meat, there are other things we can do to ensure we don't have to suffer from this horrible form of cancer.

Eating a diet that is high in fruits and vegetables, especially when eaten raw, is the most essential thing we can do for our health. Those that are rich in fibre are especially good for the behind. The fruits and vegetables that are highest in fibre include:

* Avocados

* Peas

* Broccoli

* Brussels sprouts

* Cabbage

* Carrot

* Chick Peas/Garbanzo Beans

* Eggplant

* Greens - collards, kale, turnip greens

* Mushrooms

* Pumpkin

* Peppers

* Rhubarb

* Spinach

* Sweet Potatoes

Regular exercise, healthy eating and a positive attitude are generally known to stave off all forms of cancer.

Benefits of a Vegetarian Diet

According to studies, vegetarians enjoy better health than people that eat meat. In addition to lower rates of cancer, they also have lower rates of coronary artery disease, gallstones, cancer, kidney stones, colon disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. A vegetarian is also less likely to be overweight than a non-vegetarian.

Switching to a vegetarian diet has actually been shown to help cure these diseases. In 1961, the Journal of the American Medical Association stated that ninety to ninety-seven percent of heart disease, the cause of more than half the deaths in the United States, could be prevented by a vegetarian diet.

The American Heart Association report states, "In well-documented population studies using standard methods of diet and coronary disease assessment... evidence suggests that a high-saturated-fat diet is an essential factor for a high incidence of coronary heart disease."

About the author:

Sheryl is a kinesiologist, nutritionist and holistic practioner.