Cancer | Cancer Causing Foods

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:

WHO: http://www.who.int/foodsafety/chem/chemicals/acrylamide/en

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