How Does Your Diet Turn Into a Carcinogen?

Research continues to identify foods and methods of preparation linked to increased risks of cancer. As consumers grow more health conscious, they may wonder which foods to avoid.

Grilled Foods

• ready bbq chicken image by sumos from Fotolia.com

  Foods cooked at high temperatures, such as grilled or fried meats and vegetables, develop acrymalides, a chemical known to cause cancer in rats. Industrial plants use acrymalides to produce various plastics. PhIP, a type of acrymalide, possesses certain estrogen-like properties which may worsen a patient's breast cancer.

Aspartame

• The human body produces various byproducts when breaking down aspartame. Among these byproducts is methanol, which the body further reduces to formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. Scientists and researchers continue to study this possible risk.

Red Meat

• Consume meat in moderation. bouletten image by Silvia Bogdanski from Fotolia.com

  A recent study revealed men and women over the age of 50 who consumed beef, pork or lamb on a daily basis were 30 percent more likely to die from cancer. Eating large quantities of red meat cooked at high temperatures increases the likelihood that DNA-damaging chemicals will be introduced to the body. Red meat consumption may affect tumor growth rates.

Processed Meats

• Processed meats pose risks. hot dog image by dinostock from Fotolia.com

  Nitrosamines and other chemicals in processed meats, such as hot dogs and deli items, may increase the risk of cancer. University of Hawaii researchers discovered a link between people who consumed large amounts of processed meats and their risk of developing pancreatic cancer.