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9 cancer-causing foods we consume regularly

TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Last updated on - Feb 4, 2021, 13:41 IST

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Foods that expose you to cancer

Today is World Cancer Day and undeniably the mere mention of this dreadful disease can leave you anxious, but what we often ignore is the fact that the root cause of Cancer may depend on our day-to-day habits.

According to World Health Organization, cancer is the second leading cause of death in the world and if we go by the statistics on WHO website, approx 9.6 million people died of cancer in 2018. As per experts, the main cause behind the spike in cases of cancer is our daily lifestyle and food habits. From packaged food to adulterated fresh produce, they all together create a disbalance in the body and leads to various healthy issues. This piece of information talks about such 9 food items that directly expose your to cancer and should be avoided.

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White flour

We all know that whole grains are good, if someone says that processed grains are good, be aware, they are misguiding you. Processed form of grain, for instance refined white flour is cancerous in nature. During the processing, the white colour comes by a blast of chlorine gas. Besides this, it has an extremely high glycemic index, which spikes the blood glucose and insulin levels along with it.

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Microwave popcorn

Do you know that the microwave bag in which you prepare popcorn is lined with a product called PFOA, which is proven to be the reason behind cancer of pancreas, kidney, liver and bladder. When you cook corn in the bag, PFOA coats the corns along with the artificial trans fat present in butter. Popcorn is a healthy snack, only when cooked on gas stove or cooked on traditional chulha.

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Alcohol

Excess of anything is bad and alcohol is no different. Excess alcohol consumption damages your liver and increases the pressure on kidneys. It has been found that excessive alcohol consumption increases the risk of cancer of mouth, esophagus, liver, colon, and rectum. It is recommended that one drink per day for women and two for men is safe.

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Potato chips

They are rich in salt and saturated fat, which is not good for human body. They are also rich in acrylamide, a carcinogenic chemical that occurs in food that are cooked at a high temperature and increases the risk of cancer. This chemical is also found in cigarettes, which makes it dangerous too.

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Smoked and processed meat

Smoked and processed meat use a lot of nitrates and nitrites, which are linked to cancer. They are also rich in high fat content, which is considered bad for your heart and digestive system too. According to Cancer Council, to reduce the risk of cancer, one should not eat more than 1 serving of lean red meat per day or 2 serving 3-4 times per week. Red meat includes beef, lamb and pork.

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Soda

We all know that soda is bad for health and it becomes a killer when consumed in excess amount. It has excess amount of sugar that multiples cancer cells and increases the risk. It also has no redeeming nutritional value and puts you at greater risk due to presence of artificial chemicals and colorings that are added.

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Canned food

When it comes to canned food, cans are dangerous for you. It has been proven that they are lined with dangerous chemical BPA, which is a known hormone disrupter that is directly linked to cancer. This BPA slowly leeches into the food and becomes the key reason for cancer.

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Pickled Food

While some experts find pickling a healthy process, health experts consider is another form of toxicating the food. It has been found that pickling increases nitrates, salt, and artificial coloring content in food and is directly linked to digestive tract cancer that affects stomach and colon. If you love pickle a lot, it is suggested to prepare them at home to stay safe.

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Farmed salmon

If you have been consuming farmed salmon and think you are eating healthy, let us tell you that a recent study has proven that farmed salmon increases the risk of developing cancer. Farmed salmon are contaminated with carcinogenic chemicals that expose you to cancer. It is suggested not to eat farmed salmon more than once a month.

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