To Reduce the Health Risk of Barbecuing Meat, Just Add Beer

PolygamousRanchKid (1290638) writes "Grilling meat gives it great flavour. This taste, though, comes at a price, since the process creates molecules called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) which damage DNA and thus increase the eater's chances of developing colon cancer. But a group of researchers led by Isabel Ferreira of the University of Porto, in Portugal, think they have found a way around the problem. When barbecuing meat, they suggest, you should add beer. The PAHs created by grilling form from molecules called free radicals which, in turn, form from fat and protein in the intense heat of this type of cooking. One way of stopping PAH-formation, then, might be to apply chemicals called antioxidants that mop up free radicals. And beer is rich in these, in the shape of melanoidins, which form when barley is roasted." (The paper on which this report is based, sadly paywalled.)

Stupid

[WilyCoder]

What a stupid article. Beer is hardly the best source of antioxidants. Blueberries would be a far better choice.

"Eat antioxidants to prevent cancer" ....well thank you captain obvious, we have known this for many years!

Re:Stupid

[Shinobi]

However, recent discoveries point out that it's not as clearcut as that. In fact, antioxidants can also increase the chance of cancer developing or even increasing cancer growth, by preventing formation of ROS, which disrupts signalling.

Antioxidants have already been linked to cancelling out the effects of excercise for the same reason, the antioxidants suppressing the ROS, which screws up the signalling.

Re:Stupid

[Anonymous Coward]

The bacteria in your colon are what is triggering or preventing the triggering of many cancers. That is the main reason why eating fruit is NOT the same as drinking juice or supplements. The bacteria in your colon form an extremely complex web of interaction with your body. Healthy gut bacteria protect you from all sorts of food borne illnesses, like salmonella and even colon cancer. Never mind c. diff. and recent links to autism when population is disrupted or altered via oral antibiotics.

colon cancer,
http://www.sciencedaily.com/re... [sciencedaily.com]

salmonella,
http://www.sciencedaily.com/re... [sciencedaily.com]

autism,
http://www.abc.net.au/4corners... [abc.net.au]

It's not just a "sack of shit". It's the most important part of you and there is no "pill for it".

Re:Bunk!

[belmolis]

According to my physician father, the first proven case of an environmental cause for cancer was that of smoked meat and fish in Iceland causing colon cancer. This is a long established relationship, not a recent fad.

Keep away from my grill

[jfanning]

By cooking over a low heat first you ensure that the meat is cooked evenly throughout, and then you sear the outside over a very hot grill. Otherwise you end up with raw inside and black outside. By searing last you get the flavour and evenly cooked meat.