The statement "everything causes cancer" has
become a popular hyperbole, and one that some people use as rhetorical fodder
to excuse their own dietary and lifestyle failures, particularly as they
pertain to cancer risk. But the truth of the matter is that many common food
items have, indeed, been scientifically shown to increase cancer risk, and some
of them substantially. Here are 10 of the most unhealthy, cancer-causing foods
that you should never eat again:
1)
Genetically-modified organisms (GMOs). It goes without saying that
GMOs have no legitimate place in any cancer-free diet, especially now that both
GMOs and the chemicals used to grow them have been shown to cause rapid tumor
growth. But GMOs are everywhere, including in most food derivatives made from
conventional corn, soybeans, and canola. However, you can avoid them by
sticking with certified organic, certified non-GMO verified, and locally-grown
foods that are produced naturally without biotechnology.
2)
Processed meats. Most
processed meat products, including lunch meats, bacon, sausage, and hot dogs,
contain chemical preservatives that make them appear fresh and appealing, but
that can also cause cancer. Both sodium nitrite and sodium nitrate have been
linked to significantly increasing the risk of colon and other forms of cancer,
so be sure to choose only uncured meat products made without nitrates, and
preferably from grass-fed sources.
3)
Microwave popcorn.
They might be convenient, but those bags of microwave popcorn are lined
with chemicals that are linked to causing not only infertility, but also the
liver, testicular, and pancreatic cancers. The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) recognizes the perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in microwave popcorn
bag linings as "likely" carcinogenic, and several independent studies
have linked the chemical to causing tumors. Similarly, the diacetyl chemical
used in the popcorn itself is linked to causing both lung damage and cancer.
4)
Soda pop. Like
processed meats, soda pop has been shown to cause cancer as well. Loaded with
sugar, food chemicals, and colorings, soda pop acidifies the body and literally
feeds cancer cells. Common soda pop chemicals like caramel color and its
derivative 4-methylimidazole (4-MI) have also specifically been linked to
causing cancer.
5)
'Diet' foods, beverages. Even worse than conventional sugar-sweetened soda pop, though,
is "diet" soda pop and various other diet beverages and foods. A
recent scientific review issued by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) of
more than 20 separate research studies found that aspartame, one of the most
common artificial sweeteners, causes a range of illnesses including birth
defects and cancer. Sucralose (Splenda), saccharin and various other artificial
sweeteners have also been linked to causing cancer.
6)
Refined 'white' flours. Refined flour is a common ingredient in processed foods, but
its excess carbohydrate content is a serious cause for concern. A study
published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Mile Markers, and Prevention
found that regular consumption of refined carbohydrates was linked to a 220
percent increase in breast cancer among women. High-glycemic foods in general
have also been shown to rapidly raise blood sugar levels in the body, which
directly feeds cancer cell growth and spread.
7)
Refined sugars. The
same goes for refined sugars, which tend to rapidly spike insulin levels and
feed the growth of cancer cells. Fructose-rich sweeteners like high-fructose
corn syrup (HFCS) are particularly offensive, as cancer cells have been shown
to quickly and easily metabolize them in order to proliferate. And since
cookies, cakes, pies, sodas, juices, sauces, cereals, and many other popular,
mostly processed, food items are loaded with HFCS and other refined sugars,
this helps explain why cancer rates are on the rise these days.
8)
Conventional apples, grapes, and other 'dirty' fruits. Many people think they are
eating healthy when they buy apples, grapes, or strawberries from the store.
But unless these fruits are organic or verified to be pesticide-free, they
could be a major cancer risk. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that
up to 98 percent of all conventional produce, and particularly the type found
on its "dirty" fruits list, is contaminated with cancer-causing
pesticides.
9)
Farmed salmon. Farmed
salmon is another high-risk cancer food, according to Dr. David Carpenter,
Director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the University of
Albany. According to his assessment, farmed salmon not only lacks vitamin D,
but it is often contaminated with carcinogenic chemicals, PCBs (polychlorinated
biphenyls), flame retardants, pesticides, and antibiotics.
10)
Hydrogenated oils.
They are commonly used to preserve processed foods and keep them
shelf-stable. But hydrogenated oils alter the structure and flexibility of cell
membranes throughout the body, which can lead to a host of debilitating
diseases such as cancer. Some manufacturers are phasing out the use of
hydrogenated oils and replacing them with palm oil and other safer
alternatives, but trans fats are still widely used in processed foods
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