Cancer Causing Foods
When a person is diagnosed
with diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, or kidney failure, dietitians
and physicians will advise the patient on foods they should and should not be
consuming.
For instance, a patient
with heart disease would be told to follow a low fat diet.
With cancer patients, it
seems they are given information on how to avoid weight-loss and nausea,
but they are not always informed
about foods that COULD be feeding their cancer cells.
I fully believe there are
certain foods out there that have carcinogenic effects and should be avoided by
those who have cancer, are in remission, or have a strong family history of the
disease.
The following is a small
list of ingredients to avoid:
Foods to Avoid:
Sugar
Simple sugars provide the
energy tumor and cancer cells need to grow and metastasize. Basically, in both normal and cancerous cell
growth, glucose (sugar) is utilized. By restricting glucose, you are slowing cancerous
cell growth.
Cutting back on sugary snacks may not only be good for your waistline, but your longer term health.
AVOID: Doughnuts, crackers,
chips, cookies, and ingredients: High Fructose Corn Syrup, sugar, sucrose,
white pasta/rice/bread, and enriched bleached flour.
Acrylamides
These are chemicals used
for industrial purposes and found in foods produced by high temperature
cooking.
While it is uncertain if
acrylamides pose a health risk, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), acknowledge that levels of acrylamides
in food pose a reason for concern.
Asparagine is an amino
acid (building block of protein) found in many vegetables, with higher
concentrations in potatoes. When starchy foods like french fries are exposed to
high heat (>120 degrees F), asparagine can transform into acrylamides and
has been shown to cause cancer in rats.
While human studies are
still incomplete, why take the risk? So, best to skip the fried foods.
AVOID: French fries and
other fried food items.
Sodium nitrite
(nitrates)
Nitrates and nitrites are
chemicals used in pesticides, rodent repellents, and as food preservatives.
Food companies add these
chemicals to processed meats; hot dogs, lunch meat, bacon, etc., to aid in
preservation and provide that fresh, pink color. Exposure can also come from
contaminated drinking water and has even been found in fruits and vegetables.
During digestion, these
nitrites are transformed into nitrosamines, which act as carcinogens.
Nitrosamines can be found in any pickled, fried, or smoked foods, BEER, cheese,
fish byproducts, and tobacco smoke.
While studies are
non-conclusive on whether exposure of these nitrates is cancerous to adults,
increased incidence of brain tumors, leukemia, and nose/throat tumors has been
found in some studies with children (www.epa.gov).
AVOID: Processed meats,
hot dogs, and bacon as much as possible.
Trans Fats
Beware! These
super-hydrogenated oils don't occur in nature and manufacturers typically use
them to stabilize food products. Yet when your body absorbs this manufactured
substance, trans fats replace regular fats but don't do the same job because
trans fats are so rigid and twisted up. The fat has been linked to all sorts of
cancers from breast to colon cancer. Your body needs fats to survive - trans
fats, it can do without.
Red Meat
Not only processed meat
such as sausage, but eating red meats is linked to cancer risk according to
researchers. For example, scientists found eating an extra 100 grams of red
meat per day increased the risk of bowel cancer by 17 percent. Another study
found that meat consumption increased prostate cancer by 12 percent.
Alcohol
The more alcohol you
drink, the more likely you will get cancer, according to the American Cancer
Society. While not exactly a food, alcohol remains a significant risk factor
for cancer, according to researchers.
While I acknowledge that
this information may sound harsh and restrictive, I still feel it is necessary
for people to be aware that FOODS can cause cancer, just as much as they can
prevent cancer.
I honestly believe that
you can live a lifestyle of “moderation” IF you are 100% healthy.
However, when fighting off
disease, “moderation” takes on new meaning because your body needs to defend
itself 24/7.
For more information
visit:
National Cancer Institute:
www.cancer.gov
Source:
http://thehealthyapron.com/2010/04/22/343/
http://www.ibtimes.com/sausage-and-cancer-5-other-cancer-causing-foods-395524
http://www.ibtimes.com/sausage-and-cancer-5-other-cancer-causing-foods-395524
