Salami or a cold beer on a sunny afternoon. We’ve long known they’re not the healthiest of choices, and as scientists warn of health risks, these little pleasures seem less gratifying, reports The Telegraph.
Photo: Shutterstock (Archive)
Earlier this year, the American Cancer Society reported that the number of people under the age of 55 diagnosed with colorectal cancer has doubled since ten years ago.
Meanwhile, the Institute for Research on Cancer (IARC) plans to designate the artificial sweetener Aspartame as a possible carcinogen.
Excessive consumption of some foods has been linked to cancer, but others need further research.
The main responsibles
Salami, bacon, sausage and ham
In 2015, the IARC classified these processed meats as a “certain” cause of cancer. The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) recommends reducing processed meat consumption to less than 70g per day.
The cause of concern is chemicals called nitrites, which keep these foods fresher for longer. When cooked at high temperatures, nitrites can form carcinogenic compounds known as nitrosamines.
Replace with: avocado or mushrooms.
alcohol
Our body turns alcohol into a chemical called acetaldehyde, which damages cells. “There is an increased risk of breast, esophageal cancer starting at low levels of alcohol consumption, and also an increased risk of liver and colorectal cancer at higher levels of alcohol consumption,” said Sadie Boniface, from the Institute for the Study of Alcohol.
Replace with: non-alcoholic beverages.
Concerns
Beef and red meat
It is known that an excessive consumption of beef, lamb and pork increases the risk of cancer. One of the reasons is represented by a molecule called heme, too much of it can cause cellular changes in the lining of the colon, which can become cancerous.
Soft drinks with sugar content
Scientists from the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health found that women who consumed more than two such drinks had twice the risk of developing colorectal cancer.
Philip Calder, a professor at the University of Southampton, believes this is because people who drink a lot of such drinks are more likely to be obese, a risk factor for cancer.
Replace with: water, milk, unsweetened coffee or tea.
Cakes, breakfast cereals, chocolates and sweets
Although no randomized control trials have shown a direct link between sugar and cancer, nutritionists say that people who consume a lot of sugar usually have a fairly poor diet.
Replace with: fiber sources such as vegetables.
Possible responsible
Sugar-free chewing gum
A week ago, scientists working for the World Health Organization suggested that aspartame could be a possible cause of cancer. But, as with sugar, this may be because people who consume artificial sweeteners have a poor diet.
Replace with fruit.
Peanuts and peanut butter
It’s not peanuts that are the problem, it’s aflatoxins, toxins produced by certain fungi found in peanuts and tree nuts. Aflatoxins have been associated with a high risk of liver cancer.
Replace with: Alternatives like almond butter.
Tap water
Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFA) are increasingly found in our drinking water.
Replace with: a water purification filter.
Flavored yogurts
The focus on ultra-processed foods has led to concerns about products with high levels of emulsifiers, chemicals that create a fine texture.
There are no studies proving that emulsifiers are carcinogenic, but they are thought to trigger inflammation in the gut and bloodstream because the body doesn’t recognize them.
Replace with: plain yogurt.
White bread
Nutritionists are also concerned about highly processed grains. According to some studies, a high intake of refined grains is associated with the risk of colon and gastric cancer.
Replace with: whole grain bread.
2023-07-05 07:21:17
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