Cancer is a serious health issue that affects millions of people around the world. While there are many factors that can contribute to the development of cancer, diet is one of the most important. Eating certain foods can increase your risk of developing cancer, while avoiding others can help reduce your risk. In this article, we will discuss 16 foods that may worsen cancer risk.
Processed meat, overcooked foods, and fried foods are classified as Group 1 carcinogens by the World Health Organization (WHO). Eating processed meat has been linked to colorectal and stomach cancer. Red meat is classified as Group 2A, probably carcinogenic to humans, and is linked to colorectal, pancreatic and prostate cancers. The Cancer Council recommends limiting consumption of cooked red meat to 65 to 100 g per week.
Alcohol is also classified as a Group 1 carcinogen, and is linked to cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, breast, liver, stomach and intestine. The risk associated with alcohol consumption is thought to be dose-dependent in some forms of cancer. Moderate consumption of red wine may be related to lower overall mortality and a lower risk of coronary heart disease and stroke. Chinese-style salted fish is a Group 1 carcinogen like processed meat.
Tomatoes contain high amounts of lycopene, which offers “moderate protection” against prostate cancer for those who consume large quantities of raw tomatoes. Eating citrus fruits can significantly reduce the risk of esophageal and pancreatic cancer, as well as stomach cancer by 28%. Sugar provides fuel to tumors, allowing them to grow in size. Processed sugars may be more accessible to cancer cells than natural sugars.
Alcohol abuse is the leading cause of cancer behind tobacco use, and excessive alcohol consumption has been linked to an increased risk of oral, colon, liver and other types of cancer. Foods with a high glycemic index (GI), such as pasta, bagels and other “white” carbohydrates have been linked to an increased risk of lung cancer. Adding healthy fats (such as olive oil) and protein to pasta helps lower the overall glycemic index of the food it's a part of. Milk consumption has been linked to an increased risk of prostate cancer.