According to the World Health Organization, cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Around a third of cancer deaths are caused by five key lifestyle risks: alcohol use, tobacco use, lack of physical activity, high body mass index, and low fruit and vegetable intake. In addition, the Preventable Cancer Foundation says only five percent of cancers are hereditary, so lifestyle choices have an enormous impact on overall cancer risk.
All of this is good news. It means you have far more control over your chances of getting cancer than you might think. And while making sure you have an adequate intake of things like fruits and vegetables, there are also foods you should avoid to decrease your risk of developing cancer.
There have been countless studies attempting to link certain foods to an increased or decreased risk of cancer. Cancer.net says the connection between a specific food and cancer can be difficult to establish because there can be complicating factors, such as interactions between the different foods and drinks people consume, and how a food is prepared may influence its risk or benefits.
1. Microwave Popcorn
Many people enjoy eating popcorn while watching their favorite movie. However, it is a much better and healthier option to make your own popcorn at home in ghee or coconut oil. By this you can turn popcorns into e healthy snack but only if you are using organic popcorn kernels. Also, you should avoid buying popcorn at the movie theaters because they contain buttering agent which is a possible cancer-former.
Cancer-Causing Agent: Perfluorooctanoic acid is created during the microwave process from substances found on the inside of the bags.
2. Beef Jerky
This snack contains nitrites which can lead to the development of cancer. These substances are found in many other foods but beef jerky has much more of them per ounce than many other foods.
Therefore, you should make your own beef jerky using grass-fed ground beef rolled out thin using a rolling pin, and baked in the oven for hours at the lowest temperature.
Cancer-Causing Agent: Nitrites found in beef jerky are associated with cancer development, and they are added to give the jerky its color and also to keep it fresh for months.
3. Canned Foods
It has been long discussed whether BPAs contained in canned foods can cause cancer and whether these substances are transferred to the food that the cans contain. Therefore, you should opt for fresh or frozen food, or buy canned food which is BPA-free.
Cancer-Causing Agent: Bisphenol-A .
4. GMO Foods
GMO treated food contains herbicides and pesticides which have been shown to cause cancer and lead to development of many other diseases. These chemicals cannot be rinsed off before eating. Try to consume 100% organic foods, or the food that has the “Non-GMO Project Verified” seal on it to make sure your food is GMO free.
Cancer-Causing Agent: herbicides and pesticides.
5. Cola
Cola contains High Fructose Corn Syrup which gives the soda its brown color. This chemical has proven to feed the cancer cells that you currently have in your body.
Cancer-Causing Agent: 4-MI (4-methylimidazole) which is directly linked to cancer development in thousands of individuals.
6. Diet Foods
Generally, diet foods contain artificial sweeteners which are associated with cancer development. Moreover, these substances have toxic effect on the body.
Cancer-Causing Agent: Aspartame which is the most commonly used
artificial sweetener and it has been linked to cancer development for
years. However, FDA claims that there is no sufficient evidence to
support this theory.
7. Fried Snacks
Fried snacks are absolutely delicious, but carcinogenic as well. These snacks have previously been deep fried, just like French fries, in order to make it crispy . During this process there is a formation of cancer-causing substances which eventually we consume.
Cancer-Causing Agent: Glycidamide, a metabolic product of Acrylamide, a substance produces from frying foods at high temperatures. This substance is considered as highly carcinogenic