While America has been filled with vegetarians, many have still been meat-eaters. Unfortunately for those meat eaters, the International Agency for Research on Cancer has concluded in a paper that processed meats–including bacon, ham and hot dogs–have been one of the causes of colon cancer and supposedly even stomach cancer. Additionally, red meats have most likely been one of the causes of pancreatic and prostate cancer.

Moreover, the agency explained that the processing of meats by curing, smoking or other methods have generated chemicals that have been carcinogens or chemicals that were suspected to be carcinogens.

According to statistics, diets high in processed meats have caused about 34,000 cancer deaths globally. Although there has been a driven up risk if one eats processed meats every day, meat eaters should realize that they do not have to entirely cut red meat out of their lives.