Products increasing cancer risk revealed

Dangerous foods

Nutritionist Matthew Lambert said that people should consume more nutrients by eating at least five servings of different fruits and vegetables daily, including whole grains such as beans and lentils, as well as unsalted nuts and seeds.

"These types of food are higher in nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and fibre – which among other things, is important in lowering the risk of bowel cancer," the expert adds.

Lambert also shared his list of forbidden foods, which includes processed meat, alcohol, red meat, and sugary and fried foods.

Foods better not to eat

Processed meat

In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization (WHO) classified processed meat as carcinogenic to humans, noting that there is sufficient evidence from epidemiological studies that eating processed meat causes colorectal cancer.

According to the WHO, processed meat has been salted, dried, fermented, smoked, or otherwise prepared to enhance flavor or improve preservation. According to the WHO, some of these cooking methods can produce potentially carcinogenic chemicals. Examples of processed meats include hot dogs, ham, sausages, corned beef, and beef jerky.

Alcohol

Drinking alcohol increases the risk of developing cancer of the mouth and throat, larynx, esophagus, colon and rectum, liver, and breast.

"When it comes to alcohol, there are no health benefits to drinking," Lambert says.

Because even small amounts of alcohol can increase the risk of cancer, we recommend that you do not drink alcohol. Women are advised to limit their alcohol consumption to one drink a day, and men to no more than two drinks a day. Adults over 65 should not consume more than one drink per day.

Red meat

Also in 2015, the IARC announced that red meat - beef, veal, pork, lamb, mutton, horse, and goat - is probably carcinogenic to humans.

The most significant but still limited evidence of a link to red meat consumption is colorectal cancer. There is also evidence of a link between pancreatic cancer and prostate cancer.

People are advised to limit their red meat consumption to three servings per week, which is equivalent to about 350-500 grams.

Sweet and fried foods

Being overweight or obese is associated with a higher risk of developing 13 types of cancer. People are advised to eat less processed foods that are high in saturated fat, sugar, and salt.

This includes foods such as cakes, cookies, pastries, chips, sweetened drinks fast food, and more.

Although there is no evidence that confectionery can directly cause cancer, since small amounts can be high in calories and easy to consume in excess, they can lead to weight gain over time.

This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.