By Collins Onyango
Food and beverages you consume, the fuel your body uses to fight disease is critical to your overall health. While food may be essential to your overall well being, some (foods) may be worse than others and could be predispose you to many conditions and diseases including cancer
Food and beverages you consume, the fuel your body uses to fight disease is critical to your overall health. While food may be essential to your overall well being, some (foods) may be worse than others and could be predispose you to many conditions and diseases including cancer
There are cases where cancer
strikes suddenly but often, it manifests progressively after years of specific
habits. Good examples of this are smoking and frequent exposure to ultraviolet
rays, which result in lung cancer and skin cancer, respectively.
Regularly consistently eating
the foods in our top list can also lead to heart disease, diabetes, and chronic
inflammation. The truth of the matter is that, indeed many common food items
have been scientifically proven to increase cancer risk and some of them
substantially.
1. Genetically Modified
Foods (GM Os)
The GMO foods are often
modified to withstand heavy doses of a pesticide called glyphosate or are
engineered to contain a toxin that kills bugs The rapidly growing industries of
genetically modified crops continue to infiltrate our food supply at an
alarming rate. While this new culture may be fairly new source of cancer,
several experts
agree that GMO foods could be next source of cancer. Genes inserted into GM
soy, for example, can transfer into the DNA of comensals (bacteria living
inside us). In one study, toxic insecticide produced by GM corn was found in
the blood of pregnant women and their unborn foetuses.
In addition, glyphosate, one of
the most common pesticide sprayed on GM crops and an additional 200 crops, has
been linked to Non-Hodgkin’sLymphoma,
birth defects, growth of human breast cancer cells, among other effects
However, one can avoid GM Os
by sticking with certified organic, certified non-GMO verified and
locally-grown foods produced naturally in absence of biotechnology
2. Microwave Popcorn
The smell that first hits you
when you open a bag of popcorn is perhaps one of the most satisfying, but it
could pose danger to your health
Microwave popcorn has been at
the centre of lung cancer debates around the world. From the chemical-lined bag
to its actual contents, conventional microwave popcorn bags are lined with a
chemical called perfluorooctanoicacid
( PFOA); same toxin found in Teflon.
PFOA significantly increases the risk of kidney, bladder, liver, pancreas
and testicular cancers according to recent study at
the University of California
It is so EASY to make your own popcorn from scratch and you can avoid all of
these health pitfalls. This recipe takes 5 mins. The additional 2 minutes (over
microwave popcorn) is time definitely worth committing to.
3. Canned Foods
Most cans are lined with a
product called bisphenol-A
(BPA), which has been shown to genetically alter the brain cells of rats.
Many plastic goods, thermal paper, water lines, and many dental composites also
contain BPA.
Trying to avoid the BPA in
canned foods can be a challenge but may seem simple.
Of course, fresh vegetables and
beef products are always the best option. Check out what's local and seasonal
in your area—they're likely the least expensive, freshest and tastiest produce
selections around
4. Processed Meats
Although grilling tastes
delicious,
scientific studies continue to reveal that when you grill red meat and
specifically processed meats like hot dogs – it releases a carcinogen called heterocyclic
aromatic amines (HAA). Several processed meat products, such as lunch
meats, bacon, sausage, and hot dogs, contain HAA, a chemical preservative that
make them appear fresh and appealing, but has potential to cause
cancer
A recent largest study to
highlight this question, published on line BMC Medicine, found a
moderate positive association between processed meat consumption and mortality.
This was particularly true for cancer, but was also true for cardiovascular
diseases (CVDs).
5. Refined Sugars and High
Sugar Consumption
It is a fact that sugar feeds every
cell in our body — even cancer cells. But, it (sugar intake) doesn’t
necessarily result in cancer. It’s what sugar does to your waistline that may
lead to cancer. Too much sugar calories may result in weight gain, and obese
increases your risk
for cancer and other diseases.
Refined sugar is a not only
typically GMO (because it’s genetically modified sugar beets), but it rapidly
spikes insulin levels. High fructose (HFCS) is the biggest threat because it is
the source of major insulin spikes and feed the growth of cancer cells.
Published in the Journal of
Clinical, a study uncovered identified sugar, not only as fuel source
for an already existing cancer, but as a primary driver in oncogenesis – i.e.
the initiation of cancerous characteristics (phenotype) within previously
healthy cells.
6. Salted, Pickled, and Smoked
Foods
Most published epidemiological
studies positively associate salt or salted food
consumption to stomach cancer risk. Preservatives increase the life of foods by
controlling the growth of undesirable molds, yeast and bacteria in food that
can cause spoilage and illnesses. These preservatives used include nitrates that can
accumulate in the body over-time and eventually, their toxins result in
cellular damage and later progress to diseases like cancer. At high
temperatures especially during cooking, the nitrates are converted to the much
more dangerous carcinogenic
nitrites.
7. Soda and Carbonated
Beverages
For the last two decade sodas
have been at the centre of the health debate. Enriched with high-fructose corn
syrup (HFCS), dyes, and a host of other chemicals, they pose risk for your
health despite zero
nutritional value. Loaded with sugar, food chemicals, and colourings, soda
acidifies the body and literally feeds cancer cells. Common soda derivatives
like caramel color and its precursor 4-methylimidazole
(4-MI) have also specifically been linked causing cancer.
8. Hydrogenated Oils
Hydrogenated oils, like
vegetable oil, contain trans-fats
(also called trans-saturated fats or trans-fatty acids) widely used in
processed foods. They are packed with unhealthy omega-6fats
and have been proven to structure and flexibility of
cell membranes throughout the body, which can lead to a host of debilitating
diseases such as cancer membranes.
Most trans-fat is formed
through an industrial process that adds hydrogen to vegetable oil, which causes
the oil to become solid at room temperature and present in a variety of food
products, including:
- Baked goods. Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans-fat.
- Snacks. Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans-fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans-fat to help cook or flavor the popcorn.
- Fried food. Foods that require deep frying — French fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans-fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
- Refrigerator dough. Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans-fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
- Creamer and margarine. Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarine also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
You stay away from
hydrogenated oil by choosing coconut, palm, or olive oil. Organic butter is a
better option as well. Some meat and dairy products contain small amounts of
naturally occurring trans-fat.
9. Farmed Fish
Eating fish has long been
regarded as healthy option. That could have been absolutely true, but today in
most cases; it’s only partially true statement. Where your
fish comes from is of paramount importance! There is a vast different
between wild caught fish and farmed fish. Commercial fish farming involves
raising an incredible number of fish – such as salmon – in a crowded
environment.
Over 60% of the salmon
consumed come from farms where they are treated with antibiotics, pesticides,
and other carcinogenic chemicals.
Besides, farmed fish gives you
higher levels of inflammation producing omega-6
fatty acids, and lower levels of inflammation fighting heart and brain
healthy omega-3s
A study conducted at the
University of New York at Albany found that dioxin levels in farm-raised salmon
are 11 times higher than those in wild salmon.
World Health Organisation
(WHO) describes Dioxins as one of the “dirty dozen,” because they are
highly toxic and are stored for a long time in the body: their half- life in
fat cells is 7 to 11 years.
Dioxins impair the endocrine,
immune, nervous and reproductive systems and are carcinogens.
10. Potato Chips/ French Fries
Potato Chips/ French Fries are
fast food staples fried in hydrogenated vegetable oil and then heavily salted.
Aside from trans-fats, potato chips and other junk foods include carbohydrates,
preservatives, salt and artificial colour's and flavors. Foods cooked in high
temperatures lead to the formation of carcinogens like acrylamide,
which is connected to different cases of
cancer. Both French fries and potato chips have been found to have higher
levels of acrylamide that studies have shown increase
the risk of cancer
- Consumer Warning:Processed Meats Cause Cancer
- Increased sugar uptake promotes oncogenesis via EPAC/RAP1 and O-GlcNAc pathway
- Top10 Cancer Causing Foods
- Top10 most unhealthy,cancer-causing foods - never eat these again!
- Top11 cancer causing foods to avoid that you might eat everyday
