Cancer affects millions of people around the world, and it is hard to dodge it. This illness puts the body through hell and treatments can also be grueling.
But it doesn’t have to remain this way forever. If all of us are well informed, we can prevent cancer on our own. The best way to start is by having a healthy diet and avoiding foods that can cause cancer.
Below are foods that we should all stop eating or limit our consumption to reduce the chances of getting cancer.
#10. Grilled Meat
The taste and smell of meat being cooked under a nice fire is mouthwatering.
However, grilling meat under the fire creates carcinogenic compounds called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heterocyclic amines. These chemicals have been shown to cause cancer.
#9. Farmed Fish
Many fish that you buy from the grocery store come from farms. It is true that fish are rich in omega-3 and they get it from aquatic plants in the water. However, farmed fish are fed a high-corn diet and may include chemicals and other pollutants. These chemicals also include pesticides to keep sea lice at bay.
#8. Soft Drinks and Sports Drinks
Many studies have confirmed that there is a link between soft drinks and cancer. These beverages, including sports drinks, increase the production of insulin in the pancreas which can double the chances of developing pancreas cancer.
#7. Smoked Foods
There’s no denying that smoked meats are delicious, but they contain carcinogens called nitrites and nitrates that help these foods from spoiling.
When smoked meats are cooked, those nitrites and nitrates turn into N-nitroso compounds, which increases one’s risk of cancer.
#6. BPA Lined Cans
Many food companies coat their products with Bisphenol-a (BPA). However, BPA has been linked to numerous health problems, including infertility, cancer, diabetes, and obesity.
#5. Sugar
All people should try to reduce or cut down sugar. Individuals who have or had cancer must eliminate this from their diets as sugar encourages cancer cells to grow and it feeds tumors.
#4. Processed Foods
Processed foods have nitrates and nitrites that increase one’s risk of getting stomach cancer and other cancers. It also contains many chemicals that are harmful to your overall health.
#3. Non-Organic Vegetables and Fruits
Fruits and vegetables that are conventionally grown and induced with herbicides, GMO seeds, and pesticides should not be consumed.
These three chemicals contain carcinogens that are dangerous for your overall health.
#2. Microwaved Popcorn
Movie nights are never complete without a bowl of popcorn, but are they worth it? Eating microwaved popcorn increases your risk of developing cancer!
The bags are lined with perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which prevent oil from seeping through the package. But when heating up a pack of popcorn, these chemicals get mixed with the popcorn. Studies have shown that PFOA has been associated with the development of tumor in animals.
#1. Hydrogenated Oils
Constantly consuming hydrogenated oils can increase your chances of getting breast cancer. Manufacturers often process oil by creating a chemical reaction with hydrogen to prevent spoilage.
According to Harvard School of Public Health, the trans fats in hydrogenated oils encourage inflammation and immune system over-activity. These have been linked to various health problems, such as cancer, heart ailments, and diabetes.