Most probably, you still don’t know that some foods that we eat every day can actually cause cancer. Nevertheless, there is a connection between cancer prevention and food.
Many research has been made on its prevention as cancer became the disease of our days. With lots of news on food and cancer prevention possible nowadays, we want to educate you regarding cancer-causing foods. The main part of this plan is to avoid such foods, other advice on the prevention will be discussed too. Here are the 15 cancer-causing foods you should avoid:
15. Canned Tomatoes
Canning the tomatoes are particularly bad because they are acidic which causes the release of chemical BPA from the lining into the tomatoes that are being canned. Moreover, this pretentious vegetable is not as wholesome as many think that they are badly sprinkled with pesticides. Being thinly skinned and absorbent, tomatoes are one of the foods that we need to buy organic only. Therefore, it is still best to eat organic and fresh tomatoes. Unlike fresh organically grown tomatoes which help the body fight against infections and prevent cancer, canned tomatoes are carcinogenic food. The lining of food cans has Bisphenol A (BPA) which is advised to be a dangerous substance by the Canadian Cancer Society.
14. Sodas
Sodas are not good at all. It has a high amount of phosphate, white sugar, and chemicals. They effortlessly used up the body nutrients which leads to obesity and weight gain. It contains unnatural flavoring, fabricated coloring and artificial sweeteners, all of these are carcinogenic substances. Saccharin is the highest concern among the artificial sweeteners. For some studies showed that saccharin is the initiator and cancer promoter in cancer infected animals in the laboratory. Another artificial sweetener, aspartame is commonly used in sodas. More research studies showed that it caused brain tumors in experimented animals. The increase of aluminum levels in the brain tissue caused the disease of Alzheimer plus weakened the gastrointestinal passage. It is happening because when the sodas are packed in the aluminum, it leaks a wide amount of aluminum.
13. Farmed Fish
Salmon and other cold water fish are rich in omega-3 and eating them inclined us to be very healthy. Since saltwater fish is fed on smaller fish and deep-water plankton, it is a good source of omega-3 essential fatty acids. Unlike to coldwater fish, farm-raised fish has a low source of omega-3 because farm-raised fish is fed with untypical diet.
This farmed-raised fish is polluted with antibiotics, pesticides chemicals, and other unknown cancer-causing elements and compounds. It exhibits a higher amount of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a group of industrial chemicals. For a fish to get its pinkish color, some use synthetic pigment (canthaxanthin) while for naturally grown fish, it happens innately. Nowadays, though wild-caught fish is contaminated with chemicals like mercury, it is still the best choice to eat.
12. Processed Meat
Ham, beef jerk, hotdogs, deli meats sausages and bacon are delicious but processed meats. These food products have been altered to change their taste or to preserve, by means of processing methods like curing, smoking, adding salts and preservation.
Lately, the World Health Organization (WHO)’s International Agency for Research on Cancer declared that eating of processed meats is carcinogenic. Twenty-two experts from 10 countries reexamine more than 800 studies to achieve their conclusions. They saw that consuming 50 gm of processed meats every 24 hours elevated the risk of colon cancer by 18%, equivalent of about four strips of bacon or one hotdog. During the meat processing method, chemicals that cause cancer are being formed like N-nitroso compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
11. Microwave Popcorn
We should be aware that the microwave popcorn has a negative impact on our health. This is because of the hazardous compound as known as perfluorooctanoic acid which produces during the decomposition of Teflon coating, and chemicals used in the lining inside the popcorn bag. PFOA toxify the liver, immune system, and affects hormones as well as altering thyroid hormone levels, studies shows. This hazardous compound has been associated with the increased risk of certain cancers, including liver, bladder, kidney and prostate cancer.
Popcorn is a convenient and healthy snack if it is prepared the right way (no added artificial flavor, high amount of sugar and salt and unhealthy fats). And non-GMO organic air popped product(not microwave), for it is a good source of fiber and it is low in calories.
10. Hydrogenated Oils
In the hydrogenation process, a barrel of hydrogen gas is placed underneath a vat of oil, and under-regulated event, the hydrogen gas is allowed to bubble up into the oil. The unsaturated fats change into saturated ones when oil is impregnated with more hydrogen. These changes bring about semi-solid fat (most margarine, vegetable oils, and the oils is being preserved). The profitable business is very efficient, but health cost is denotative.
In the hydrogenation process, some unsaturated fatty acids convert into trans-fat which causes the increase of atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries) and the increase of cholesterol levels in the blood. Also, they can constitute free radicals which boost the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Manufactured baked goods like crackers and cookies, vegetable oils, chips, and margarine are by-products of hydrogenated oils. To avoid these carcinogenic oils, choose natural food brands.
9. Potato Chips
Cheap, tasty and very convenient snacks are the potato chips. However, they contain artificial flavors and color and countless preservatives. Potato chips are very salty, and their high sodium content can bring high blood pressure side effect for some people. Furthermore, potato chips can lead to obesity because of high fat and calories they contain. They are also full of trans fat, which is bad for one’s health and can cause high cholesterol in many people because the process of producing potato chips includes a very high temperature. This phenomenon develops acrylamide, a cancer-causing chemical. This acrylamide is a carcinogen with the consensus of American Cancer Society and European Food Society Authority. Experiment in the laboratory with animals entails that acrylamide can destroy DNA and bring certain types of cancer.
Instead of eating potato chips, healthy options would be banana chips or dehydrated apple.
8. Alcohol
Too much alcohol consumption will lead you to develop many types of cancer, including breast cancer, colon, rectum, larynx, liver, mouth, esophagus, and pharynx as per the Canadian Cancer Society. Moreover, when alcohol is coupled with cigarette smoking, the risk of having a cancer is increasing. When alcohol is abused, it develops into many nutritional deficiencies and poor diet. The alcohol in our bodies transforms into a toxic cancer-causing chemical called acetaldehyde. The DNA is being damaged, and the cells stop to repair this damage. Acetaldehyde formation is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a product of drinking alcohol as a carcinogenic, along with alcohol itself.
Occasional drinking, though helpful and lower the risk of heart disease, too much of it has a dangerous effect on your health. As research advised, that the limited alcohol you take, the lesser the chance of having cancer.
7. Artificial Sweeteners
In some way, artificial sweeteners are conventionally used to control blood sugar in diabetes or minimize obesity. But research suggests that artificial sweeteners do not support weight loss in many people, rather it indeed elevates weight gain. One study shows that aspartame truly worsens insulin sensitivity to a higher level than sugar. And this artificial sweeteners hungers you for more sugars as well.
The most commonly used synthetic artificial sweeteners are aspartame (Nutrasweet). It can affect the user’s mood and energy and truly be a neurological irritant. Research studies in lab animals showed the higher risk of brain tumors and associated with a migraine headache due to the intake of aspartame. A choice for these artificial sweeteners is naturals sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, molasses and stevia but in moderate amount only.
6. Refined white flour
Most people nowadays are aware that white flour is dangerous for your health. It can lead to weight gain and the number one cause of obesity when overeaten. The process of refining grains and flours makes the loss of nutrients and decrease the fiber content which can develop a variety of digestive problems such as constipation.
What makes it bad for one’s health is the chemical treatment of the flour to look white in color by forming and alloxan in the flour. This alloxan is a pollutant causing diabetes. In labs, the healthy animals are infected by diabetes through this alloxan to create a medication for diabetes. The higher glycemic index that can be found in processed white flour causes the rapid rise of blood sugar level. Cancer cells feed mostly on the sugars in the bloodstream. To prevent cancer growth in the body, one should avoid refined white flour and white sugar. As a healthy option, there is now a product available including cereals, bread, pasta, cookies and cracker which are yummy, delicious whole grain unprocessed output.
5. Refined Sugar
There is just so many side effect in too much sugar intake in our body. It shrinks our immune system, upset the body’s mineral balance, cause hyperactivity, anxiety, fatigue, weight gain, depression, and arthritis. If our immune system is weak, our risk of having a cancer is greater. The sugars feed damaging intestinal yeast, toxic organisms, fungi and all forms of cellular cancer. Our brain and every cell need glucose to perform their duties and functions; experts say sugar feeds cancers with high regards to refined white sugar are bad and those refined products and high fructose corn syrup. The rationale for that is they are metabolized by cancer cells most easily and fastly.
Use natural sugar such as honey, pure maple syrup or sweetener with fruits as a healthy alternative but in regulated amount only.
4. Pickled or Salt-cured food
Food with a high content of nitrates and nitrites are extremely salted pickled that may affect the stomach and digestive living. Nitrates and nitrites may transform into cancer-causing nitrosamines that damaging the DNA cells.
Some studies revealed that people whose conventionally diet contains lots of salted-cured or pickled foods, are more exposed to the stomach and nasopharyngeal cancers. You can create pickled foods at home regulating the amount of salt you are using.
3. GMO products
By inserting DNA from another species, genetically modified products are created. By doing this, the desired characteristics of a product are improved. For example, some protein genes are added to zucchini to defend against viruses. Tomatoes are recast to increase shelf life and resistance to pests. The research studies link GMO’s to cancer, liver and kidney damage and severe hormonal disintegrate. Though, debates on this topic are still ongoing.
Regrettably, there is no condition to state that the product is GMO on food tag in the US and Canada. Still, the best choice is to acquire meats from animals fed by fresh grass, and organically grown vegetables. When buying in the markets, try to look for non-GMO or GMO-free labels on the stocks.
2. Dirty Vegetables and Fruits
Dirty vegetables and fruits are those that are tainted with pesticides. The research of Canadian Cancer Association advises a viable connection of pesticides with cancers such as multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, prostate, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, pancreatic, lung, non-melanoma skin cancers and testicular. Also, the studies of pesticides and childhood cancer say that there might be a possibility of connection with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and leukemia.
1. Meat Raised with Hormones and Antibiotics
Many hormones are applied to modify the traits of animals while antibiotics are used as a remedy to bad conditions and to avoid any illnesses. The use of hormones and antibiotics in food-producing animals has stimulated lot apprehensiveness about their result on human health.
There is accountable research that says hormones and antibiotics in meat are not safe for consumption. The European Union in 1989 prohibit the sales of hormone-treated US meat in member countries. Above it, most estrogenic hormones are carcinogenic in human, especially in women.
The good alternative here would be to consume organic grass-fed or raised meat. It lowers your openness to traces of antibiotics and artificial hormones that tend to naturally raise animals. It also decreases exposure to toxins from pesticides that maybe accumulate in animal fat.
Good nutrition is always essential, but we should be aware that some other factors may lead to diseases. Environmental, psychological, social, emotional factors are also very important. It is crucial that we keep ourselves physically and mentally fit through exercise and positive attitude. Daily exercise improves attitude and energizes life, as well as boost our immune system. Good stress management, relaxation, and strong, healthy immune system are the importance of the prevention plan.