Cancer has touched us
all in one way or another. Whether it is a friend or family member
fighting the battle, or you yourself who have had to fight the
potentially deadly disease, everyone has been impacted by this horrible disease.
Even the treatments for cancer, such as chemotherapy, can
wreak havoc on the body, causing you to become ill, lose your hair and
more. Because of all the devastating effects of cancer and even the
treatments for cancer, it makes sense that we should do all we can to
avoid getting cancer in the first place.
Our foods are one of the biggest sources of cancer causing agents
today, but not all foods are bad and not all are good. So how do you
know which ones are bad?
Cancer Causing Foods
There are many different foods out
there that are known to contain materials that aren’t only bad for us,
but can also increase our risks of developing a wide variety of cancers.
Let’s take a look at 10 of the top potentially cancer-causing foods
that we all should be avoiding in our diets.
1. GMOs
Genetically modified foods (GMOs) are a rapidly growing industry.
Today, much of our food supply now stems from these GMO crops. There is
debate around whether GMO crops can contribute to the risk of humans
developing cancer. For example, a piece by L.Z.G. Touyz published in
Current Oncology stated
that while a previous study had linked GM foods to causing cancer, the
publication had been found to not be subject to “satisfactory objective
refereeing, and certain tainted financial interests were also
operative”.
2. Microwave Popcorn
Microwave popcorn may seem like a nice, light snack, but you better
be careful. For a time, many people believed that inhaling the fumes
from microwave popcorn could give you lung cancer. While that has been
proven not to be true, there is a lung disease known as diacetyl
that is associated with inhaling the fumes from a freshly popped bag of
popcorn. In addition, there is a chemical in the nonstick coating on
the inside of the bag that breaks down into a compound called
perfluorooctanoic acid. A study in 1993 by Dr. Frank Gilliland found
that workers exposed to this chemical had an increased rate of cancer
mortality.
3. Canned Foods
If you thought a can was safe, think again. Most cans are lined with a product known as bisphenol-A (BPA). According to
breastcancerfund.org, even small exposure to this product can increase the risk of breast cancer, prostate cancer, and other disorders.
4. Grilled Red Meat
Almost everyone loves a nice, juicy steak prepared on the grill, as
nothing else can truly unlock all the wondrous flavors of the meat.
However, studies have found that preparing meats this way releases
heterocyclic aromatic amines, a known carcinogen. Think you can just
grill this problem away? Sorry. According to the
National Cancer Institute,
cooking meat at very high temperatures such as on a grill can create
these carcinogens and increase the risk for cancer. However, there are
still no official guidelines on the consumption of meat prepared in this
manner.
5. Refined Sugar
While you may have a sweet tooth, you may want to consider putting
down that cookie made with refined sugar. We eat more refined sugar
today than we ever have. Eating refined sugar has also resulted in
increased rates of obesity, which can also lead to cancers such as
breast, prostate, uterine, pancreatic and colorectal, according to cancercenter.com.
6. Soda
Who doesn’t love a cold glass of their favorite bubby soda on a hot
day? However, drinking that soda could be putting you at risk. According
to the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, drinking one or
more sodas per day could expose you to 4-methylimidazole, a possible
carcinogen.
7. Processed Meats
So what are processed meats? There are quite a few. Meats such as
lunch meat, hot dogs and even bacon are considered processed meats.
These meats are very high in salt and contain a number of preservatives
and other chemicals. If you buy smoked meat, that is even worse as the
meat often becomes contaminated by
carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, much like what happens when you smoke cigarettes.
8. Artificial Sweetener
Maybe you think you can avoid feeding those cancer cells by avoiding
refined sugar and opting instead for artificial sweetener. According to
the
National Cancer Institute,
the use of artificial sweeteners has been demonstrated to cause cancer
in lab rats, but further study has yet to definitively link cancer in
humans as a result of using artificial sweetener. Still, it may be wise
to use these sweeteners in moderation.
9. Hydrogenated Oils
Hydrogenated oils are essentially vegetable oils that have been
extracted from their sources using a chemical process. These oils
contain a high amount of Omega 6 fatty acids. These trans fatty acids
are known to cause an increased risk in heart disease and some cancers
including skin cancer, pancreatic cancer, and rectal cancer to name just
a few.
10. Chips
Who doesn’t love a good potato chip? Still, these chips are often
fried and very high in fat, and they also contain all types of
artificial flavors and preservatives. According to the American Cancer Society,
when they are fried in high heat, a product called acrylamide is
created. This is a known carcinogen that can also be found in
cigarettes!
Conclusion
While many of these foods are definitely quite tasty, consuming too
much of them on a regular basis could definitely increase your risk of
developing cancer. Seek out alternatives that not only taste great, but
are grown and prepared safely so they don’t contain the cancer causing
agents that you can find in many of these foods
Post a Comment