Food can play a role in preventing cancer, but it can also be a factor in raising cancer risk.
It all depends on what you eat.
A healthy diet can reduce inflammation, provide antioxidants to protect cells and help people avoid obesity — all factors in helping keep cancer at bay.
So, there are certain foods dietitians eat to prevent cancer, including berries, tomatoes, spinach and more.
When it comes to foods dietitians avoid for fear of raising the risk of cancer, one option looms large on the list.
Tip of the Day: Avoid Eating Processed Meats
This refers to beef, pork or other red meats that have been salted, cured, fermented, smoked or have nitrates added. Products include deli meat, bacon, ham, hot dogs, pepperoni, beef jerky and sausage.
“If I were to pick one food (to avoid), it would be processed meat,” Maya Vadiveloo, Ph.D., a registered dietitian and an associate professor of nutrition at the University of Rhode Island, previously told TODAY.com.
Why It Matters
The World Health Organization has classified processed meat as carcinogenic to humans.
“Even small amounts of processed meat eaten regularly increase the risk of colorectal cancer,” the American Institute for Cancer Research notes.
“When meat is smoked, cured, salted or has added nitrites, compounds form that can cause cancer.”
Evidence suggests processed meat is associated with an increased risk of stomach cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. The iron and fat found in red meat may increase cancer risk due to the salt and nitrates in processed meats.
Many deli meats are also high in saturated fats, which are linked to things like higher risk of cancer, higher risk of heart disease, higher cholesterol and higher blood pressure.
How to Get Started
Chicken or turkey versions of processed meats may be somewhat healthier. However, it’s still best to minimize all forms of these products.
If you’re craving a deli meal, buy a rotisserie chicken or freshly roasted turkey. Then slice it and use that in a sandwich. Also, it’s a healthier protein than deli or packaged meat.
Basically, there are other option to explore to get healthy proteins. Try chickpeas, eggs and canned tuna as nutritious substitutes for processed meat.
Source: today.com©
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