Diet gun

Many everyday foods increase the risk of cancer and some of them can even promote it.

Here are 5 categories of foods that can cause cancer and it would be good to limit their intake to a minimum because they act cumulatively and their negative effects after long-term frequent intake will be seen after several years, maybe even decades.

1. Processed meat

Processed meats develop nitrosamines, which have been classified by the World Health Organization as a “known carcinogen” mainly for the colon.

Processed meats are sausages, salami, ham, mortadella, roasted, boiled or smoked turkey, bacon, canned meat.

2. Red meat (in Excess)

Red meat (beef, veal, pork, lamb, mutton, horse, goat) is assessed as “possibly carcinogenic” to humans if consumed frequently, mainly because carcinogenic components develop if cooked at high temperatures.

High consumption of red meat increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. We should not consume red meat more than 3 times a week, with the total weekly amount not exceeding 500 g. of cooked red meat !!!

3. Processed foods

Processed foods are modified with various chemicals such as flavor enhancers, colorings, emulsifiers, raising agents, anti-foaming agents, to make them more palatable and have a longer shelf life.

Processed foods also often contain large amounts of salt, sugar and saturated fat.

They are usually low in fiber, vitamins and minerals, which increases the likelihood of obesity in people who consume them frequently.

Obesity is a risk factor for cancer.

Some of the most well-known processed foods are packaged snacks such as fast food, pizza, burgers, wafers, cookies, chips, sugary cereals, soft drinks, margarine, and complex cheeses.

4. Alcohol

Heavy alcohol consumption can cause cancer of the pharynx, esophagus, breast in women, liver, colon and rectum because when alcohol breaks down in the body, compounds are formed that affect DNA.

Excessive and frequent intake of even wine, which is considered one of the purest drinks, can create cancer conditions in the body.

The daily recommended dose of alcohol is one “serving” drink per day for adult women and two “servings” drinks per day for adult men, one “serving” drink for men and women over 65 years of age.

A “serving” drink is 1 glass of wine (140ml) or 1 can of beer (330ml) or 45ml of spirits and contains 15 grams of alcohol, such as vodka or whiskey.

5. Sugar

Foods that contain refined sugar (sucrose, glucose, fructose, dextrose, maltose, corn syrup, honey, maple syrup, hydrolysed starch) and simple carbohydrates such as sweets, white bread, white pasta, sugary drinks and soft drinks can indirectly increase the risk of cancer.

Cancer cells use glucose faster than many normal cells and absorb 10-12 times more sugar than healthy cells.

Excessive sugar intake can also lead to obesity, type 2 diabetes and chronic inflammation, factors that significantly increase the risk of cancer (mainly breast and ovarian cancer in women, bladder and colon cancer).


Sources of the article
5 foods and drinks linked to cancer
Top 5 Foods That Can Trigger Cancer
What affects your risk of getting cancer?