One "cancer" word and three "mouths" seem to indicate the relationship between cancer and diet? In fact, in addition to gene, environment and other factors, unhealthy dietary structure and eating habits are closely related to the occurrence of cancer, such as stomach cancer, esophageal cancer, colorectal cancer etc. It is even said that some cancers are "eaten" in one bite, so which foods do cancer cells like the most?
In daily diet, these kinds of unhealthy diets are "accomplices" of cancer.
1. Fried foods
High temperature frying may cause complex chemical reactions between fats and proteins in food, resulting in a series of harmful compounds, including benzopyrene, heterocyclic amines, acrylamide, and other carcinogens.
Common foods: fried dough sticks, pancakes, fried eggs, etc.
2. Preserved food
Preserved food contains lots of nitrites, which will enter the body and form carcinogens - nitrosamines - in the acidic environment of the stomach. Excessive intake of nitrosamines may greatly increase the risk of cancer.
Common food: salted vegetables; pickles etc.
3. Processed Meat
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of The World Health Organization has previously classified processed meat as group 1 carcinogen and makes it clear that it is carcinogenic. Processed meat may produce carcinogens such as nitrites, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heterocyclic amines during production.
Common foods: canned meat, ham, sausage, bacon etc.
4. High sugar foods
Long-term intake of high-sugar foods may lead to chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes, as well as affect metabolism and hormone levels in the body, increasing the risk of cancer.
Common foods: sugary drinks, bakery, etc.
5. Moldy spoiled food
After food mildew not only causes food senses to deteriorate, but also produces strong toxins, causing food poisoning, disease, or cancer.
Common foods: overnight vegetables, moldy nuts, grains, etc.
6. Hot food and hot drinks
The World Health Organizations International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies hot beverages above 65 degrees Celsius (e.g. coffee, tea, etc.) as group 2A carcinogens, claiming that they increase the risk of esophageal cancer.
Epidemiological investigations suggest that esophageal cancer, cardia cancer, and oral cancer in some areas may be related to the habit of eating hot food. Eating a hot diet for a long time can lead to repeated damage to the mucosa of the digestive tract, which may lead to chronic inflammation and promote tumor occurrence.
7. Alcohol
An increasing evidences show that alcoholic beverages not only damage the liver but also increase the risk of a variety of cancers.
There are some of sufficient evidences indicate that alcoholic beverages are one of the causes of oral cancer, throat cancer, esophageal cancer (squamous cell carcinoma), liver cancer, colorectal cancer, and breast cancer.
Healthy diet suggestions.
Protein, carbohydrates, and fat are the three major nutrients required by the human body every day, and they should be prioritized in the diet to ensure a balanced nutritional intake.
It is recommended to choose poultry, fish, beans, eggs or dairy products for protein.
Fiber-rich carbohydrates include oatmeal, brown rice, corn, potatoes, sweet potatoes, etc.
Healthy fats such as olive oil, fish oil, nuts, and avocados etc.
Pay attention to a balanced diet in daily life, and advocate eat less and have more meals, less salt and more light, less old and more fresh, less hard and more soft, less fried and more stewed, less hot and more warm, less smoked and more fried, etc.. Do not eat moldy food, eat a healthy diet, and avoid "cancer enters by the mouth".
The pathogenesis of each type of cancer is different. To reduce the risk of cancer, in addition to adjusting your diet, do the following things in your daily life:
1. Stay away from 11 pathogens
Currently there are 11 pathogens identified as carcinogenic by IARC:
1 bacteria: Helicobacter Pylori;
7 types of viruses: Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis C virus, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Epstein-Barr virus(EBV), HIV (HIV) etc.
3 parasites: Opisthorchis viverrini, Clonorchis sinensis, and Egyptian schistosoma.
To prevent common infections in daily life, timely vaccination is recommended, such as HPV vaccination to prevent cervical cancer, hepatitis B and C vaccination to prevent liver cancer etc.
2. Quit smoking and drinking alcohol
The International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization clearly stipulates that tobacco and alcohol are both group 1 carcinogens.
3. Control your weight and keep exercising
More than 20 different types of cancer are associated with obesity, the most significant of which are rectal, endometrial, and esophageal adenocarcinomas.
It is recommended that adults should engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise or 75 minutes of high-intensity exercise per week.
A. Pay attention to sun protection
About 86% of melanoma skin cancers and 90% of non-melanoma skin cancers are linked to solar UV radiation. Therefore, good sun protection is the most effective way to reduce the risk of skin cancer.
B. Get screened for cancer
Regular physical examinations, and cancer checkups for key populations are required to detect adverse physical factors early and intervene as soon as possible.
The article is solely for the purpose of health science popularization.
It does not constitute a basis for clinical diagnosis or medical treatment.
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Editor | Huang Fei