A doctor being eyed for a role in the Trump administration has revealed the truth about red meat and colon cancer.
Dr Aseem Malhotra, a British cardiologist who is close to Robert F Kennedy Jr, appeared on Megyn Kelly's podcast Friday to discuss diet, heart disease, and other health issues facing the new government.
Heaps of recent studies have suggested that red meat like steaks could be fueling an explosion of colon cancers in young Americans due to their high levels of saturated fat.
The US government has even proposed urging Americans to cut down on red meat and switch to plant proteins due to these health fears.
However, Dr Malhotra suggested that red meat has been unfairly demonized and that there is 'no evidence' that it increases colon cancer risk in moderation.
He said: 'I tell my patients, "I don't care how much red meat you eat." For colon cancer, the evidence is only there for processed meat, not red meat.'
Dr Malhotra echoes what other doctors have pointed out: most of the studies looking at meat and cancer risk don't differentiate between foods like steak and cuts of lamb, and processed burgers and hotdogs.
He noted that, while read meat continues to be demonized, refined grains like white bread and pasta are still recommended in US dietary guidelines.
Kelly reacted with shock: 'Wow, that's crazy!' she said.
Dr Malhotra also suggested that, for the same reasons, red meat does not increase the risk of heart disease, despite the fact it's long been associated with the condition.
He said: 'Eating foods like red meat does not contribute to heart disease at all.'
Dr Malhotra instead pointed toward ultra-processed foods and those high in sugar and refined carbohydrates as the true culprit.
However, the American Heart Association still recommends consuming red meat and other foods high in saturated fat like eggs in moderation.
The claims come amid rumors that Dr Malhotra has been tapped by President-Elect Donald Trump for an advisory role to tackle America's obesity and heart disease crises.
Dr Malhotra also has close ties to RFK Jr, Trump's pick for secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, who has spoken at length about his plans to ban ultra-processed foods and tackle obesity.
A growing movement of the carnivore diet, which preaches eating only animal products, has also questioned red meat's role in chronic diseases like cancer.
Colon cancer diagnoses among people under 50 years old, which are classified as early-onset, are expected to rise by 90 percent in people 20 to 34 years old from 2010 to 2030.
No one cause has been identified but ultra-processed foods are thought to play a role because they contain fats, sugars and other chemicals that lead to inflammation in the digestive tract.
While some recent studies have pointed the blame at red meat, Dr Malhotra said that it's processed meats like sausages and bacon that are the likely culprits.
Dr Malhotra told Kelly (pictured here): 'For colon cancer, the evidence is only there for processed meat, not red meat'
Dr Malhotra suggested cutting out refined carbs instead of red meat to lower heart disease risk.
A study published earlier this year in the journal NPJ Precision Oncology suggested that processed meats produce metaboites, which researchers said 'feed' cancer cells and 'hijack' normal cells.
And other recent research suggests that eating processed meats more than once a week is associated with an increased risk of colon cancer markers.
Meanwhile, younger Americans are also less likely than older generations to pick a steak over chicken or fish.
Research from Tulane University found that Boomers are responsible for most of America's red meat consumption, and overall consumption has dropped about six percent in the last two years.