Cancer is a growing concern for many individuals as it is one of the leading causes of death in the world. It’s often referred to as the silent killer because you only get to figure out that you are stricken with it when it is already too late. There are many factors that can cause this disease to happen such as poor immune system, genetics, and exposure to certain products or environment that contain carcinogens. Of course, the food that we eat can also play a part on the growth of cancer cells in the body. As a matter of fact, here is a list of foods that you should avoid if you want to reduce your risk of cancer.
Hydrogenated oils
If you have been reading labels on processed and preserved foods, you will find that hydrogenated oils are one of their main ingredients. You see, this type of oil is used to help preserve the freshness of the food so that it will still look appealing. Unfortunately, this oil can actually affect the structure of your cell membrane which can put you at risk from cancer.
Microwaved popcorn
Another food that can increase your risk of cancer is microwaved popcorn. This is because this snack has PFOA or perfluorooctanoic acid which is a type of carcinogen. Although microwaving your popcorn is all sorts of convenient, you are better off air popping your kernels and adding your own flavor to it.
Bread
Most countries serve bread at home. It’s soft, it’s filling, and it can be a good snack or add on to any meal. But who would have thought that it can be considered as a cancer causing food? It appears that potassium bromate, which is typically used in breads, is actually bad for your health. Even though it speeds up the process of making bread, its long term effects on the body is frightening. Potassium bromate is now being banned in many countries but it may take a while before it is completely removed from the list of ingredients used to bake bread.
Farmed salmon
It is reported that eating fish is actually good for your health because of the omega-3 fatty acids that they contain. However, not all fish are created the same. As a matter of fact, farmed fish like salmon are not really recommended as they are treated with pesticides and other chemicals to make them grow bigger. It is these pesticides and certain chemicals that we can ingest that can increase our risk from cancer. With that being said, it is better to for wild-caught salmon, tuna, and the like because they are healthier.
Refined sugars
It seems that our sweet tooth may be putting at risk from cancer. According to Otto Warburg, a Nobel laureate in the field of medicine, tumors are using refined sugar to metastasize. This is disturbing especially since most of the foods that we eat make use of refined sugar especially the sweet treats that we all love. With that being said, it pays to be careful when it comes to desserts especially the ones you buy in grocery stores. Read the list of ingredients so you will know which ones to avoid.
Red and processed meats
I think we have already established the fact that processed food is dangerous for you. Hotdogs, sausages, bacons, and other processed foods are actually putting you at risk from cancer. The preservatives that they contain can cause cancer cells to grow. With regards to red meat, it appears that it contains a sugar molecule that gets absorbed by the body and then attacked by the immune system. This leads to inflammation in the body which can be dangerous in the long run.
