Foods That May Increase Cancer Risk

Cancer is the term for a collection of similar syndromes due to which, cells in the body lose their balance. The cells keep dividing and breaking continuously and spread into surrounding tissues.


The human body is made up of billions of cells, and new cells are created once the older ones get damaged. When the body develops cancer, this orderly process stops, and the batteries work abnormally. Batteries do not die when they arrive used or old and new cells, on the other hand, grow when they are not required.

Cancers may form solid tumors which are masses of tissues at any part of the body. Again, the blood-related diseases have no such external effects and are more malignant and spread faster than the rest. Except for brain tumors (mostly life-threatening) others, types of tumors do not spread easily. They vary in size and once removed, do not grow back quickly. The case is just the opposite for the malignant tumors.

Types of Cancer

Take a look at some of the most common forms of cancer:
  1. Carcinoma

These are the most common types of cancers and are caused by epithelial cells. These are the cells that cover the inside and outside surfaces of the body. There are four main types of Carcinoma:

  • Adenocarcinoma is the type which usually forms in the epithelial cells which release fluids or mucus. The tissues containing such cells are commonly known as glandular tissues. Examples of cancers falling under this category are breast, colon, and prostate cancers.
  • The next is the Basal cell carcinoma, and the name says it all. This cancer usually begins from the lower or the base layer of the epidermis, which is a person’s outer layer of the skin.
  • Squamous cell carcinoma or epidermoid Carcinoma is the type which begins from the layer beneath the basal cell. This layer is said to cover some of the vital organs such as the stomach, intestine, lungs, bladder, and kidney.
  • Transitional cell carcinoma forms in the epithelial tissue or urothelium. This tissue is made up of several epithelial cells that get bigger or small. Cancers in the bladder, kidneys, and ureters are examples falling under this category.
  1. Sarcoma

Sarcomas are the cancers which usually form in bones and soft tissues of the body. The commonly infected parts are muscles, fat tissues, blood vessels, lymph vessels, and the fibrous tissues for examples tendons and ligaments. Osteosarcoma is the most common type of Sarcoma cancer.

  1. Leukemia

The diseases that begin in the blood-forming tissues of the bone marrow are termed as leukemia. There are no solid tumors formed on the body in this case. Instead, what happens is an increase in the number of white blood cells in the body. The result of this abnormal change is that the healthy blood cells are overpowered by the damaged, white cells, due to which proper oxygen supply to the tissues is snapped. This activity brings down the immunity level of the human body tremendously.

  1. Lymphoma

This cancer begins in the lymphocytes or T-cells and B-cells. These cells are immunity of white blood cells of the body. As the entity develops Lymphoma, the healthy white cells become dysfunctional. Abnormal lymphocytes originate in the lymph nodes and vessels. Hodgkin Lymphoma and the Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma are the two variants of this cancer.

  1. Multiple Myeloma

Also known as Kahler disease, this type of cancer builds up in the plasma cells, which is another type of immune cell. The myeloma cells, in this case, an increase in the bone marrow forming tumors all over the body.

  1. Melanoma

This cancer begins in cells that become melanocytes or the cells, which helps in the pigmentation of the skin. Mostly, these cancers form on the layer of the skin. However, there are examples of melanoma building on other parts such as the eyes.

Foods that may increase cancer risk:

Sadly, cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world presently. However, it is proven through many studies and researches, that minimal but regular changes in lifestyle and food habits can help you stay away from such a deadly disease.

Even if someone has developed the disease and detected at an early stage, it is usually curable. You must consult Inspire Health if you find any cancerous symptoms. However, you should first note what types of foods you shouldn’t have to avoid the condition. Take a look at some of the most harmful foods that can cause cancer:

  1. Sugars and carbohydrates

Processed foods are usually high in sugar content and contain shallow levels of fiber. These can pose a high risk of cancer. High sugar or glucose level can lead to higher levels of insulin in the body. This is known to stimulate cell division and the increase in the number of cancer-causing cells. Also, high levels of insulin in the body can lead to inflammation, which can, over time, lead to the growth of abnormal cells causing cancer.

Studies say that high glucose and insulin levels in the body are the leading cause of cancers, mainly in the stomach and breast. On the other hand, high levels of carbs result in most of the deadly colon cancers.

  1. Preserved meat

We all love to consume different types of meats, but the consumption of any processed meats can be very harmful to the body. Processed meats are those varieties of chickens which are preserved or undergoes salting, curing or smoking procedures. For example, hot dogs, salami, chorizo, ham are very harmful. Consumption of even 50 grams of these meat varieties regularly puts you at high risk of colorectal cancers.

  1. Overcooked food

Any type of food that is cooked in extremely high temperatures is likely to produce harmful compounds such as heterocyclic amines and advanced glycation end-products. Cooking in high temperatures include frying, grilling, sautéing, broiling or barbequing it. Excess of the harmful compounds can over time cause inflammation in the body, which in turn can give birth to more and more cancer cells.

Examples of fried and broiled food include junk foods such as chips, burgers, and other such greasy stuff. You should also avoid red meats and specific categories of cheese, butter, margarine, and mayonnaise. To prevent overcooking, try not to burn food while cooking, and adopt gentler methods of cooking food.

  1. Dairy products

Milk and dairy products are known to be very good for your health, but over consumption of the same can be equally harmful. Studies have revealed that most of the cases of prostate cancer in men are caused due to over consumption of milk and other dairy products. The excessive consumption of calcium or estrogen hormones from pregnant cows is highly linked to the causes of prostate cancer.

  1. Canned foods

Apart from processed foods, canned stuff, and packaged fruit drinks are also very harmful and can pose a risk of cancer in the human body. No matter how much they promote the presence of fruits in packaged fruit drinks, what is present is loads of sugars and preserved chemicals.

Any canned food that includes things like fish, vegetables, beans, or pickles, are harmful to your body and will only promote the growth of cancer-causing cells.

 

Last but not least, there is no particular food that can be said to remove cancer altogether. What we should do is include all fresh and healthy fruits, vegetables, poultry, nuts, and oil in our daily diets to keep ourselves fit and healthy.

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Written by HealthStatus Crew
Medical Writer & Editor

HealthStatus teams with authors from organizations to share interesting ideas, products and new health information to our readers.

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