There are other things that are just as bad as junk food and can also cause cancer slowly. And you know what's the worst? You won't even know when it has happened.
Eating junk food greatly increases the risk of cancer, no matter how tasty it is, in the long run, it has a lot of negative effects on your health. But there are other things that are just as bad as junk food and can also cause cancer slowly. And you know what's the worst? You won't even know when it has happened.
Here is a list of 15 foods that increase the risk of cancer that we eat every day, along with some healthy alternatives.
1. Cold Drinks
Cold drinks are loaded with sugar – a leading cause of cancer, and even without the sugar, it’s bad enough for you – and contain artificial caramel colour. This artificial colour is called Caramel IV and is a chemical called 4-MEI which is produced through an ammonia-based process.
Other Options – Water is always the best option to drink, but if you can’t live without the sweetness of a cold drink, then buy a pack that does not have 4 MEI.
2. Grilled Red Meat
Grilled meat may be delicious, but scientists have discovered that when it's cooked at high temperatures, it produces cancer-causing hydrocarbons that change its chemical and molecular structure.
Other options—Eat red meat in moderation and cook it carefully, or eat white meat instead, like chicken.
3. Microwave Popcorn
That's the deacetal that makes your microwave popcorn delicious, but when it's heated, it becomes toxic. Plus, the lining on the bag is carcinogenic. What's more, popcorn companies don't have to disclose whether or not their kernels are GMO, which means they are.
Other options: Buy organic kernels and cook them in the oven with olive oil or in an air popper.
4. Canned food, especially tomatoes
The kind that comes in a can is dangerous because the chemical BPA is sprayed on the cans, it alters hormones and it changes the brain cells of rats. Canned tomatoes are even worse because the acid in them absorbs the BPA into the food which makes it even more dangerous.
Other options: Buy fresh or frozen, whichever works for you.
5. Vegetable oil
These are chemically extracted from vegetable oil sources. These contain dangerous amounts of omega-6 fats, which alter the structure of cell membranes and can lead to cancer.
Other options – Try other naturally derived oils, like canola or olive oil.
6. Farmed fish, especially salmon
Although wild salmon contains lots of good-for-you protein, more than 60% of the salmon eaten in the U.S. comes from farms that are fed pesticides and antibiotics, which build up in their bodies, and get into us when we eat it.
Other options: Eat wild-caught or purified fish oil supplements.
7. Artificial Sweeteners
Most artificial sweeteners are made through chemical processes, and it cannot be said whether they are safe or not. Some researchers say that artificial sweeteners release a toxic substance called DKP (Diketopiperazine) which can accumulate in the body and potentially cause brain tumors.
Other options- If you use artificial sweeteners then use stevia as it is natural. In some recipes you can also add apple sauce instead.
8. Refined flour
Refined flour has no nutrients because it has to go through a chemical process. And worse, it is bleached with chlorine gas to make it white. It also contains a lot of carbohydrates, which are easily converted into sugar – cancer's favorite food – in your body.
Other options – unbleached, sort out the ingredients, and read the label to see how much of it has been bleached.
9. Nromal fruits, also known as “dirty” fruits
Fruit and vegetables are good in themselves, but they can never be good if they have been sprayed with pesticides. Ultrazan, a pesticide, has been banned in Europe because it causes problems to humans, but it is still used in the US. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has found that 98% of farmland is contaminated with pesticides that cause cancer.
Other Options – Always buy organic fruits, and wash them thoroughly before eating them.
10. Processed meats
These include bacon, hot dogs, sausages, and deli meats. During processing, large amounts of salt and harmful chemicals, especially nitrites and nitrates, are added to make food last longer. These additives are added to make food more tasty but are a threat to your health.
Other options – Eat organic meats and look for products that have minimal processing and preservatives, and be sure to wash and cook them carefully.
11. Potato Chips
Potato chips are dirty for a number of reasons. First, they are fried in transfats – remember the fifth item on the list? And they soak it up, and second, they contain a lot of salt which can not only increase your risk of cancer, but also heart disease. Many chips also contain preservatives and artificial colors.
Other options – For a snack you can eat some pretzels, natural popcorn, and banana chips.
12. GMO foods
There is a lot of debate over whether GMO foods are safe. On the one hand, big food companies prefer GMO products because they are more sustainable than organic food, and easier to grow in poor countries. However, very little testing is done before the food is released to market, and we know little about its long-term effects.
Other options – Organic items usually come with a non-GMO label.
13. Too much alcohol
Studies done by the National Cancer Institute show a link between excessive alcohol consumption and cancers of the head, neck, throat, liver, chest and colon. Still, while the debate is on whether to drink too much or too little, moderate drinking is generally considered healthy.
Other options - If you don't want to quit drinking, drink at a lower risk level - a maximum of 3 drinks per day for women and 4 drinks for men. And a total of 7 drinks per week for women and 14 drinks for men. If you want to quit but have been an alcoholic for a long time, you should also be aware that it can cause seizures and delirium, which can even be fatal.
14. Refined Sugar
The biggest problem in this category is high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), and other refined sugars, even brown sugar, are becoming a problem because big companies add a little molasses to sugar instead of making it naturally. Refined sugars raise insulin, and sugar causes cancer cells to grow.
Other options - Always read the ingredients before buying packaged foods; the amount of sugar in them will shock you, even in some of the healthiest items. Fill your sweet cravings with fruit, not candy, and you'll be fine.
15. Trans Fats
Trans fats are made by manufacturers by solidifying liquid oils, a process called hydrogenation, which extends the expiration date of various products. But now you know that trans fats also cause cancer, because in 2015 food manufacturers were given 3 years to remove partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) from their products.
Other Options – It is better to eat something low in fat but if you want to eat tasty things then go for things like butter which is high in saturated fat but make sure you don’t eat too much of it as it is also dangerous.
About the Author:
Harshit Raj
