We all know that being careful with our diet and eating all the right things will help us stay fit and healthy. Most people think that’s just because eating food that is unhealthy will leave us feeling fatigued, sluggish, and more likely to put on some extra weight. It’s true that’s the case, but there is also much more urgent reason why eating fresh fruit and veggies is better for you and your body – that’s because there are some foods out there that are carcinogenic. Not sure what that means? It just means that eating them often will ever so slightly increase your chances of developing cancer.
It’s not just certain foods that could lead to you suffering from cancer at one point in your life. There are other lifestyle choices that will increase your risk as well. Do you want to know what you need to watch out for? Read on to find out more!
Sugar
We already know that sugar is bad for us, but eating too much of it could lead you to the cancer ward in your local hospital. Unfortunately, not enough people know this and are eating harmful levels of the white stuff. Sure, you can easily find out details and reports of new, state-of-the-art cancer treatments that are helping more people survive, but are you really willing to continue with your sweet tooth assuming that a new medication will help you even if you do get cancer? Surely that risk really isn’t worth taking!
Bad Sleeping Patterns
You might think that working a night shift if perfectly fine, but some research has shown that working through the night and poor sleeping patterns can actually increase someone’s risk of developing cancer. It’s worth pointing out, though, that the research into the link between this factor and cancer is still in the early stages. But, if possible, it could be worth trying to find a job that will let you get a good night’s sleep each and every night.
Red Meat
Red meat is healthy for a number of reasons. First of all, it is a great source of iron and other important minerals. Plus, it’s a good source of protein. However, there have been lots of studies that have shown a large weekly intake of red meat can significantly increase the chance of developing cancer. It is widely believed that red meat cooked quickly at very high temperatures, such as grilled meat, increases the risk even further. That’s because this intense cooking changes the molecular makeup of the meat, making it more carcinogenic. So, it’s a good idea to try and eat more white meat and poultry in your diet. It’s also worth thinking about having a completely meat-free day as well to bring down your weekly meat intake.
White Flour
Basically, any food or ingredient that has been highly processed will increase your chance of developing cancer. That’s because the production and processing methods changed the molecular makeup of the food, increasing their carcinogenicity. One such food is white flour. This is one ingredient that very few people realize is actually processed. But it has been refined and all of its nutrients have been stripped from it. When you eat white flour, your insulin levels will spike a lot, which can result in insulin resistance which in turn makes it easier for cancer to develop. So, it’s always best to bake with wholemeal flour and eat any baked goods that use this natural form of flour.
Fertilizers On Fruit And Vegetables
We are constantly being told the many different advantages of sourcing organic fruit and vegetables to eat. One of these benefits is that it can cut down your chance of developing cancer. That’s because the organic produce doesn’t have any fertilizers sprayed onto it during the farming and production process. These fertilizers contain very strong chemicals that can be dangerous for our bodies, which is why it’s always recommended that you wash any non-organic fruit and veggies before you cook and eat them. However, it can sometimes be difficult to wash off all the fertilizer, which will result in you consuming the chemicals and increasing your risk of cancer.
Air Fresheners
Air pollution from car exhausts is very bad for us, but did you know that it is also possible for pollution to enter your air in your home? This doesn’t come from the cars outside, though, it can come from the air fresheners that you spray around your rooms. Even though they may make the air smell pleasant and fragrant, the scent still counts as pollution as you are adding chemicals into the air. Not only that, though, but some of these chemicals are carcinogenic. So, it could be worth thinking about cutting down your use of air fresheners.
Hot Drinks
Prefer your tea and coffee piping hot when you drink it? That might actually not be such a good idea. In fact, there are some scientists who believe that drinking hot drinks increases our chance of suffering from cancer of the esophagus. They think that the high temperatures irritate the lining of the esophagus and can lead to some carcinogenic changes in the cells. So, before you take a sip of your morning cup of coffee, it’s probably a good idea to give it a blow to try and cool it down!
Taking Too Many Vitamin Supplements
Do you take regular vitamin supplements so that you can look and feel great? If so, you might want to think about cutting down this habit. You should only take supplements if you really do have a dietary deficit. If you don’t and carry on taking them anyway, your body could react quite badly, which could lead to an increased risk of cancer. So, always think carefully before you take a new dietary supplement. If you are ever in any doubt, you should consult your doctor.
So, if you want to stay cancer free, you might want to stay away from these potential causes!
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