When your parents were young, no one was concerned about foods that cause cancer. The research was very young at the tim...
When your parents were young, no one was concerned about foods that
cause cancer. The research was very young at the time, but there were
also far less processed foods on the market. People ate healthier and
more pure foods, because that was what was available to them.
Today, it seems like doctors link everything to causing
cancer – it’s hard to determine what to really stay away from. While you
think you may be doing the right thing for your health by drinking diet
sodas or low-calorie popcorn, you’re actually eating some of the worst
cancer-causing foods out there!
Below are 16 of the biggest carcinogen culprits that you probably eat
every day. While you may be thinking “Everything causes cancer, so why
bother changing my diet,” these 16 common food items have been
scientifically shown to significantly increase the risk of cancers.
#1 – Microwave popcorn
Sure it’s easy to pop a bag of popcorn in the microwave when you want
a quick and tasty snack, but is it really worth risking yourself for
liver, testicular and pancreatic cancer? The microwave popcorn bags you
have in your cabinet are lined with carcinogenic chemicals AND so is a
chemical in the popcorn itself, which creates the artificial butter
flavor. If you can’t give up your favorite movie-time snack, it’s time
to switch to the old-fashioned stove top or a kernel popping machine
like you see at movie theaters.#2 – Non-organic produce
You’re not alone in thinking ALL fruits and
vegetables are good for you, but there are actually many dangerous
pesticides sprayed on non-organic fruits that are linked to cancer. One
example is Altrazine, a weed-killer used at many U.S. farms, but banned
in Europe for causing severe problems in humans, such as infertility.
Another problem with non-organic farmed produce is the use of toxic
fertilizers and hormones used to make fruits and veggies bigger. In case
you were wondering, the worst offenders are apples, followed by
oranges, strawberries and grapes. ALWAYS wash fruits and veggies to be
safe, but know that this doesn’t remove all pesticides.#3 – Canned tomatoes
I know what you’re thinking… You’ve likely heard how
the nutrient Lycopene in tomatoes lowers cancer risks, but that benefit
is completely cancelled out when the lining of canned tomatoes contain
chemicals that disrupt hormonal activity in the body. Since tomatoes are
so acidic, the chemical BPA actually leeches from the lining into the
tomatoes. This toxic chemical has been linked to different cancers,
heart disease and reproductive problems. Next time you feel like making a
nice red sauce, go with a glass jar or stew the tomatoes yourself.#4 – Processed meats
If you’re a carnivore, it may be hard to give up
tasty deli sandwiches or cured meats to go with your wine and cheese,
but the benefits definitely outweigh the cancerous risk. Processed meats
are created with excessive salt and chemicals that damage our health. A
study over 13 years showed that 1 out of 17 people died who ate 160
grams of processed meats. That’s 44 percent risk of cancer, as opposed
to people who ate 20 grams or less. These meats are so packed with
preservatives to look fresh, but they are well-known carcinogens,
including the same things found in cigarette smoke.#5 – Farm-raised salmon
Sure fish, especially salmon, is known as one of the
healthiest foods out there, but unfortunately more than 60% of salmon in
the U.S. is farm-raised… and could be deadly. Farm-raised fish are fed
unnatural diets and contaminated with chemicals, antibiotics, pesticides
and other known carcinogens found in materials like asbestos. Farmed
salmon is also fattier than fresh salmon, which means it soaks up more
toxins. Next time you want a healthy omega-3 packed, treat yourself to
fresh Alaskan salmon instead.#6 – Potato chips
They may be cheap, easy and delicious, but these
crispy, addicting snacks can also be deadly. These fatty foods don’t
only cause weight gain because of their high trans-fat content, they
also have excessive sodium levels, which cause high blood pressure and
artificial flavors, preservatives and colors. Another risk is the
presence of acrymalide, a known carcinogen found in cigarettes. Try not
to feed these quick snacks to yourself or your kids and choose pretzels,
air-popped popcorn or baked apple chips instead.#7 – Hydrogenated oils
Hydrogenated oils are vegetable oils, which cannot be
naturally extracted like olive oil, soy or canola oil, they must be
chemically removed. They are commonly used in many foods in your pantry
to preserve and keep their shelf life, yet they are also linked to
cancer, birth defects, heart disease and many other fatalities. NEVER
cook with hydrogenated oils and check your labels for healthy oils like
olive, soy and canola instead
#8 – Salty, pickled and smoked foods
They may be delicious, but many salty, pickled and
smoked foods are processed with the preservative nitrate, which changes
in our bodies to N-nitroso composites, which are associate with high
cancer-developing risks. Smoked foods like meat or nuts absorb the
smoke, which contains the same tar found in cigarettes. Colorectal and
stomach cancer are linked to salty, pickled and smoked foods. Do you
have a taste for these cravable foods now?!
#9 – Processed white flour
Oprah famously lost a lot of weight by cutting out
anything white, especially the big culprit – white flour. You may have
heard it’s bad for you, but you probably don’t realize that
chemically-bleaching flour with chlorine gas kills all of it’s healthy
nutrients. Chlorine gas can be deadly when inhaled, so why would we want
it in our dinner? White flour also contains a high glycemic rate, which
raises blood sugar and insulin levels and can directly cause diabetes.
Cancerous tumors feed on sugar in the bloodstream, so by avoiding
refined grains like processed white flour, you can avoid or starve
deadly tumors.#10 – GMO’s
You may have heard the term GMO, but you’re not alone
in not fully understanding the dangers of genetically modified
organisms. Why would anyone want to eat something that sounds like that,
right?! WRONG! After GMO’s were introduced in 1996, Americans with 3 or
more chronic illnesses jumped from 7 to 13% in just 9 years. Allergies
skyrocketed and so did Autism in children, reproductive and digestion
problems. GM vegetables fed to rats caused development of horrifying
tumors. One of the biggest culprits was GM bovine growth hormone found
in milk. Stay away from these silent killers and choose certified
organic, non-GMO verified and locally-grown foods that are produced
without biotechnology. You’ll be thankful you did later on in life#11 – Refined sugars
Cancer cells LOVE refined sugars, which spike insulin
levels and and promote cancer growth. High-fructose corn syrup is
considered the worst offender and it’s found in any sweet you can think
of. It’s been known for a long time that cancer cells feed off of sugar,
so with so many people addicted to sugary treats, it’s no wonder why
cancer rates have skyrocketed.
#12 – Artificial sweeteners
While many people choose artificial sweeteners to
lose weight, they are actually doing way worse damage to the body.
People who consume artificial sweeteners in soda, coffee or diet-candy
actually end up gaining weight and it does nothing to help those with
diabetes. Aspartame found in artificial sweeteners has been known to
cause convulsions, cataracts and gastro paresis. Also, artificial
sweeteners do nothing to inhibit the body’s ability to monitor its daily
calorie consumption, making us crave sweets even more. Another deadly
toxin called DKP forms in the body from these fake sweets that produces
cancer-causing chemicals, especially brain tumors. To sum it up, there
is pretty much NEVER a good reason to ingest artificial sweeteners.#13 – ANYTHING “diet”
You may be thinking you’re doing the right thing when
choosing a food with a “diet” or “low-fat” label, but you’re actually
doing way more harm than good. Chemical artificial sweetener aspartame,
again, is the big culprit, causing cancer, birth defects and heart
problems. Think about it – anything “diet” is chemically processed and
not REAL food. These foods also contain additives like ones found in
cocaine to make you feel good, but also be addicting. Be smart and eat
nature’s delicious, natural foods – organic only, of course!#14 – Alcohol
Alcohol use is the second leading cause of cancer,
right behind tobacco use. While a moderate or low consumption of alcohol
can be healthy and lead to a reduced risk of heart disease, excessive
drinking is known to cause heart failure, stroke, and sudden death.
Excessive alcohol use is the biggest cause of mouth, esophagus, liver,
colon, mouth, rectum and breast cancers. Don’t worry! You don’t need to
give up your glass of wine with dinner, but, for your health’s sake,
stick to one.#15 – Red meat
If you love a delicious steak now and then, don’t
worry! Red meat is actually a good thing in your diet in small doses,
but only if it’s grass-fed beef, which can actually help fight certain
cancers. However, people who eat meat like hamburgers every day have a
greater risk in developing deadly cancers, upping their risk to 22% in
men and 20% in women. Red meat is particularly good at causing colon
cancer. So, enjoy your steak dinner now and then, but don’t do it every
night of the week and when you do crave red meat, stick to grass-fed,
organic beef.#16 – Soft drinks
Soft drinks, soda, pop… no matter what you call it, it’s still
detrimental to your health! Soda is packed full of calories, sugar and
artificial ingredients, and has ZERO nutritional benefit. One can of
soda contains about ten packets of sugar and most popular diet and
sugared sodas are nearly as corrosive to dental enamel as battery acid.
Think the occasional soda won’t hurt? Studies have shown that only
drinking two sodas per week nearly doubles the risk of pancreatic
cancer. There are plenty of alternatives out there, so next time you’re
craving something sweet, think about what you’re putting into your body.
Your health is an investment, never forget that!Source:blog.petflow.com
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