Research has shown that eating an unhealthy diet and becoming physically inactive could increase your risk of developing cancer. The World Cancer Research Fund reports that almost 20 percent of all cancer cases are associated with inadequate diet, physical inactivity, weight gain, and excess alcohol intake. Yet, like many other illnesses, cancer is also a preventable disease. So, you will reduce the risk of cancer substantially by:
- Consuming Balanced Diet
- Eating Organic Fruit and Veggies
- Quit Smoking
- Regular Physical Activity
- Maintaining Healthy Body Weight
8 Carcinogenic Food Items Present in our Diet
We consume varieties of food items during the entire span of the day, some may be healthy and some may not be. However, some of the food items which we consume have carcinogenic elements and if consumed for a prolonged period, it can result in cancer. Food items that should be avoided to prevent the onset of cancer are discussed below:
Added Sugar
It is well known that the excess intake of foods containing refined sugar and artificial fructose sweeteners, such as high-fructose corn syrup, may contribute to a broad variety of health problems. In general, this form of food may rapidly increase insulin levels and improve cancer cell development.
In 2006, the American Society for Clinical Nutrition released a report finding that participants who ate higher levels of sugar-sweetened foods were more likely to develop pancreatic cancer than the control group. Consider replacing these dangerous food choices with natural alternatives such as maple syrup, raw honey, stevia, blackstrap, or jaggery.
Red & Processed Meat
There are several unhealthy preservatives and chemicals in processed meat, including bacon, sausage, ham, etc. Besides, this form of meat often contains an exceptionally large amount of salt. The study shows that over-consumption of processed meat may be related to the development of colorectal cancer.
That’s not all, high red meat intake can also raise people’s risk of developing prostate and colorectal cancer. So, you need to remove these items from your diet. You can only consume grass-fed meat because it is a much better option than processed meat.
Smoked & Pickled Foods
In other words, the smoking process of smoked meat leaves many harmful ingredients in the meat, which may lead to different health problems. Often, there are several nitrates in the pickled food that are converted into N-nitroso. Also, this ingredient will greatly increase the risk of developing cancer.
What’s more, smoked and pickled foods are filled with preservatives. They are added to these foods to extend their shelf life. However, excess intake of preservatives can cause cell damage, resulting in the development of cancer.
White Flour
Nowadays, there are a significant number of processed food products containing refined white flour. However, processed white flour has high levels of carbohydrates, which may harm your wellbeing. They can also raise the risk of developing cancer.
Studies indicate that women who consumed too much carbohydrate had an increased risk of breast cancer. It has also been found that white flour intake can cause a rise in blood sugar very quickly. That’s why you should substitute refined white flour with other healthier options such as quinoa, almond, whole-wheat, or barley flour.
Hydrogenated Oils
They are chemically extracted from vegetables to extend their shelf life and preserve processed foods. They are also high in omega-6 fatty acids and trans fats. To clarify more profoundly, a small amount of omega–6 fatty acids may be beneficial to your overall health. However, the high intake of these fatty acids can negatively affect the structure and flexibility of the cell membrane.
It can increase your risk of developing many types of cancer, especially skin cancer. As you can see, hydrogenated oils can do a lot of damage to your body, so substitute them with extra virgin coconut and olive oil or organic palm oil.
Microwave Popcorn
A few studies have been performed on the adverse effects of this compound. Besides, researchers found that those who were exposed to PFOA at work had a higher risk of developing kidney and bladder cancer. Another study found that this chemical could also contribute to reduced fertility in women.
Farmed Salmon
There is a significant difference between farmed salmon and wild salmon. In other words, unlike farmed salmon, the consumption of wild varieties provides many health benefits. Research indicates that there are more toxic chemicals and cancer-promoting ingredients in farmed salmon than wild salmon. Some of these additives are toxaphene, arsenic, dioxins, flame retardants, and polychlorinated biphenyls.
These ingredients are not good for your health and can contribute to several other health problems. If you are interested in buying wild salmon, please read its labeled ingredients. Bear in mind that farmed salmon is cheaper than wild salmon.
Potato Chips
The production process of potato chips involves very high temperatures. It leads to the formation of acrylamide, a common carcinogen. The National Cancer Institute has released a report that indicates that this ingredient used in potato chips raises the risk of developing breast, prostate, ovarian and digestive cancers. We all know that potato chips are filled with calories and fats that can contribute to obesity, high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and so on.
They still have a lot of artificial preservatives and flavors. But why are you still eating this kind of food? Given all these observations, you should cook potato chips at home using olive oil instead of buying commercial potato chips. Plus, consider baking baked bananas or apple chips because they are better alternatives to potato chips.
Summary
Unknowingly, we consume a lot of carcinogenic food items in the form of processed foods and this is only because of our fast lifestyle. We scantly find some time for self-healing from our busy schedule and due to this, we rely on processed and packaged foods rather than home-cooked foods. However, a lifestyle without life doesn’t make sense hence we need to re-evaluate ourselves and try to consume a healthy diet and ignore any sort of packaged and processed foods. “Stay Healthy, Stay Happy”.
