King Charles has swapped red meat for avocados in a bid to hasten his recovery and ‘beat’ cancer, insiders have revealed.
The King spent around three months away from public-facing duties when he was diagnosed with cancer in January.
He has always been committed to wellness, opting for simple and organic dishes over heavy and rich foods, but he is now taking his health even more seriously.
Queen Camilla’s son Tom Parker Bowles shared his insights into the monarch’s nutritional changes with Saga, revealing his father in law has given up red meat. He said: ‘I’m no nutritionist, but I know that food is part of a body’s “medicine”. It knows when it’s having the right stuff.’
Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond added: ‘I don’t think it will be much of a sacrifice for Charles to cut out red meat.
‘He has always been very conscious about his diet — very rarely eating lunch. And for many years he has deliberately avoided meat and fish on two days a week.’
She added that he has also reduced the amount of dairy products he eats, but this is for environmental reasons.
However, the King now has the medical incentive to cut out red meat all together.
The King spent around three months away from public-facing duties when he was diagnosed with cancer in January after receiving treatment for an enlarged prostate
She concluded: ‘He probably will miss his organic roast lamb… but I’m sure he is totally focused on his recovery, and will do anything the doctors say to beat or control the cancer.’
Large, in-depth analyses have linked diets high in red meat to cancer, particularly those affecting the digestive tract like colon and stomach cancers
Processed red meat like ham and bacon has been shown to be particularly harmful due to the preservatives added during the curing process, which can trigger the release of cancer-causing compounds in the gut.
However, experts say exactly how this happens, and the precise level of increased cancer risk, remains unclear.
One possible reason why red meat could cause cancer is due to a compound called haem.
Haem is an iron-containing compound found naturally in red meat, but when it’s digested it can break down into cancer-causing N-nitroso chemicals, explains Cancer Research UK.
The charity adds heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic amines (PCAs), which can damage cells in the bowel, are also produced when red meat is cooked at high temperatures, such as grilling and barbecuing.
Red meat is on a list of foods that experts say could cause cancer. That includes all kids of fresh, minced and frozen pork, beef and lamb
However, experts say meat is an important source of nutrients in the daily diet, including vitamin B12 which is vital for nerve function, the production of DNA in cells, and blood production.
Red meat also provides our bodies with iron, which is important for making red blood cells and zinc, which helps to heal wounds and other B vitamins, which help the body absorb energy from food.
The King has also stuck to eating a healthy breakfast of homemade bread and a bowl of fresh fruit and fresh juice, former royal staff chef Graham Newbould previously revealed.
‘He has six different types of honey, some special mueslis, his dried fruit and anything that’s a bit special that he is a bit fussy about.’
Fruit, wholemeal bread and muesli are all high in fibre — another food which can help reduce your risk of cancer.
Fibre is a type of carbohydrate that the body cannot fully digest, unlike fats and proteins. It passes through most of the digestive system relatively intact.
It also helps to regulate bowel movements and reduce the time harmful substances are in contact with the colon, which is why it’s thought to reduce bowel cancer risk.
Eating more fibre can also help you keep a healthy weight by feeling fuller for longer, this not only cuts the risk of bowel cancer but also 12 other types, according to Cancer Research UK.
The Government recommends that adults have 30g of fibre each day, which can be achieved by eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, as well as eating wholegrain breads, rice and pasta.
