How does burnt meat cause cancer

He notes that grilling meat on tin foil and marinating it in herbs and spices may also reduce the development of potential carcinogens. Contact us at letters time. By Markham Heid. Related Stories. Cooking meats with garlic, rosemary, fruit pulp, and vitamin Erich spice rubs like chili powder and paprika may lower HCA production by as much as 70 percent, according to a review in Natural Medicine Journal. Bonus: Cooking with not drinking beer can decrease HCAs' mutagenic powers.

That doesn't mean you have to eat pink chicken. Just microwave your meat for 60 to 90 seconds prior to cooking to reduce exposure time, suggests Azar. If you're grilling, broiling, or pan-frying, consider turning down the heat. Then cook food in the center of the grill with the lid closed. Skip to content. Go lean. Choose veggies. Wrap it up. Watch the marinades. Flip frequently. Try gas. Tags: Prevention. Food and Nutrition. Popular Categories. Rosemary, for example, has been found to lower HCA formation by up to 90 percent.

Other helpful herbs include basil, thyme, sage and oregano. Fresh garlic is another tasty ingredient for healthy grilling practices. When used in marinades, it can decrease HCA formation by up to 70 percent.

In fact, blackened and charred meat contains three and a half times more HCAs than medium-rare meat. Select whole cuts of meat such as steaks; chicken breasts, legs and thighs; ribs; fresh fish and seafood rather than processed cuts of meat. Avoid prepackaged burgers that may include preservatives and fillers, and make your own instead, using freshly ground beef, lamb, pork, bison, chicken or turkey. If you are grilling sausages, look for versions that contain only fresh ingredients.

Choose leaner cuts of meat. More fat on the meat means more fat dripping into the grill, which causes greater PAH formation. Happily, grilled vegetables and fruit do not produce HCAs. Try a variety of seasonal vegetables, including asparagus, corn, zucchini, yellow summer squash, peppers, leeks, cauliflower, onions, and garlic, and fruit such as pineapple, peaches, bananas, apples and watermelon.

To keep fruit from sticking, brush with a bit of olive oil or avocado oil.