Here are 10 foods that may be linked to cancer risk and that you may want to avoid to help reduce your chances of developing it.
The American Institute for Cancer states on its website: “Research has shown that most cancers can be prevented. Scientists now estimate that 60 to 70 percent of cancers are preventable through currently available information and simple changes in diet and lifestyle.”
Foods That May Be Carcinogenic to Avoid
With that encouraging note in mind, this article looks at everyday dietary changes that may improve your health while also highlighting foods that could be potentially carcinogenic to help support cancer prevention efforts.
- BPA-lined cans
This compound, found in hard plastics and resins, is used to line metal cans. Laboratory studies in cells and animals have linked BPA to cancer, infertility, diabetes, and obesity. Unless a product is labeled BPA-free, it likely contains bisphenol A (BPA). BPA is also found in many plastic products and dental materials.
- Cured and smoked foods
Nitrates and nitrites are used as preservatives to keep food from spoiling and to enhance the color of meats. When cooked, these compounds can turn into by-products known as N-nitroso compounds, including nitrosamines and nitrosamides.
N-nitroso compounds have been linked to an increased risk of cancer. Some examples of processed meats to avoid include bacon, sausages, hot dogs, pepperoni, prosciutto, beef jerky, and salami.
- Farmed Fish
According to Food and Water Watch, farmed fish have higher levels of chemical pollutants than wild fish, including PCBs, which are known carcinogens. Because fish farms are overcrowded, fish are more prone to disease, which increases the need for antibiotics. They are also more vulnerable to sea lice, leading to the use of pesticides as well.
- Grilled Meat
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, are formed through certain types of combustion, such as burning coal or wood. Another issue arises when fat from meat drips onto a flame, causing flare-ups and smoke, allowing PAHs to attach to the food being cooked and increasing the risk of carcinogenic exposure.
- Hydrogenated Oils
Hydrogenated oils, also known as trans fats, are a man-made product. Their chemical structure is altered to prevent them from going rancid, extending shelf life.
The Harvard School of Public Health notes that trans fats can trigger immune system overactivity and inflammation and are linked to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and other chronic conditions. Along with being chemically processed from their original source, additional chemicals are used to mask odor and alter the taste of the oil.
- Microwave Popcorn
These bags are lined with perfluoroalkyls, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), to stop oil from seeping through the packaging. When heated, these chemicals can leach into the popcorn, and once ingested, they may appear as contaminants in the blood.
PFOA has been linked to tumors in animal organs such as the liver, pancreas, testicles, and mammary glands in rats, as well as higher rates of prostate cancer among workers in PFOA production plants.
- Non-Organic Fruits & Vegetables
Conventionally grown crops are produced using pesticides, herbicides, and GMO seeds; pesticides in particular have been linked to a higher risk of cancer. To learn more about the risks of eating conventionally grown food, see EWG’s 2015 “Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce”.
- Processed Foods
Cured meats are often high in nitrites and nitrates, preservatives that in large amounts may increase the risk of stomach and other cancers. Processed foods also tend to be loaded with white flour, sugar, oils, coloring, flavorings, and other unhealthy ingredients.
- Refined Sugars
Researchers have found links between sugar and a range of health issues, including unhealthy blood fat levels, low HDL, a higher risk of heart disease, increased triglycerides, obesity, immune suppression, arthritis, and other conditions. Cancer cells also tend to thrive on sugar.
- Soda/Sports Drinks
Soda and sports drinks offer little to no nutritional value. They often contain high fructose corn syrup, sugar, artificial dyes, brominated vegetable oil (a flame retardant), and aspartame, which has been linked to a higher risk of cancer.