Iron fist

The type of iron found in red meat may cause changes that lead to cancers of the colon, breast and prostate, heart disease and other diseases. Writing in the journal Medical Hypothesis a mechanism is proposed that could explain how. This article suggests that haem-iron is to blame. This is a highly available form of iron found in meat but not plants. It suggests that haem-iron contributes to tissue damage done by damaging molecules called free radicals. Reducing the amount of red meat will limit the level of damage. Additionally the author states that eating more fruit and vegetables will boost your levels of antioxidants (selenium, vitamin E, vitamin C, lycopene and various phytochemicals) which ‘mop up’ free radicals.

_{Tappel A. 2007. Heme of consumed red meat can act as a catalyst of oxidative damage and could initiate colon, breast and prostate cancers, heart disease and other diseases. Medical Hypotheses. 68 (3) 562-564.}