They are the "food assassins" hidden on the table, nourishing cancer cells with every bite they take

It is often said that "the people take food as heaven"

There are countless different kinds of food in life

Many circlers not only like to eat good food

He also likes to cook his own food

But you know what?

Some delicacies are served to the table and brought to the mouth every day

It's already on the list of carcinogens!

These "food assassins"

Every bite you take is likely to nourish cancer cells!

️ Which common foods are at risk of carcinogenesis?

️ How should the risk of cancer be reduced?

Don't worry, the small circle will take you to understand!

This article is reviewed by experts

Deputy Chief Physician zhao Guodong

Chinese General Hospital of the People's Liberation Army

Faculty of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Medical Center

Which "food assassins" have clear carcinogenicity?

The International Agency for Research on Cancer under the World Health Organization divides carcinogens into 5 types of 1, 2A, 2B, 3 and 4 according to the carcinogenic risk of humans, of which 1 class has clear carcinogenicity.

1. Moldy food → liver cancer

Moldy food is scary because it contains 1 class of carcinogens: aflatoxin. Aflatoxin is mainly a secondary metabolite produced by Aflatoxin and parasitic Aspergillus, and the highest incidence of aflatoxin in food and feed in hot and humid areas. They are present in the soil, animals and plants, all kinds of nuts, especially easy to pollute peanuts, corn, rice, soybeans, wheat and other grain and oil products, is the most toxic mycotoxin, a class of mycotoxins that are extremely harmful to human health.

Aflatoxin mainly damages liver function and has a strong carcinogenic, teratogenic and mutagenic effect, which can not only cause liver cancer, but also induce bone cancer, kidney cancer, rectal cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer and so on. Many insiders know that arsenic cream is very toxic, about 1/5 g (60 mg to 200 mg) can cause death, and aflatoxin is 68 times more toxic than arsenic cream!

2. Chinese-style salted fish → nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Because of the high salinity of salting and exposure to the sun, fish will produce a large amount of nitrite during the processing of saltiness to dehydration. Nitrite runs to the stomach, after some chemical reactions, it is easy to produce nitrosamines with strong carcinogenic effects.

3. Betel nut → oral cancer

Betel nut was recognized as a Class 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organization as early as 2003. Chewing betel nut can cause tooth blackening, wear, and shake, causing gum recession, causing periodontal disease, oral submucosal fibrosis, and oral mucosal leukoplakia, which can also lead to oral cancer.

4. Alcohol → liver cancer

The harm of alcohol to the liver is gradually accumulated, with the increase in the amount of alcohol and the prolongation of drinking time, from alcoholic fatty liver → alcoholic hepatitis→ alcoholic cirrhosis, and finally liver cancer. Studies have shown that compared with people who do not drink alcohol, people who drink a lot of alcohol are more likely to get digestive tract cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, bladder cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer and so on. Therefore, it is recommended not to drink alcohol and not to advise alcohol!

Which "food assassins" are more carcinogenic?

In addition to the above-mentioned Class 1 substances have clear carcinogenicity, the following 2A substances are also more carcinogenic!

1. Overheated diet → esophageal cancer

A report by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, published in the journal Lancet Oncology, states that drinking very hot foods is likely to lead to esophageal cancer. "Very hot" here refers to any food above 65°C. Frequent consumption of food exceeding 65 ° C, the esophageal mucosa is repeatedly damaged at high temperatures, and long-term repeated stimulation is easy to cause esophageal mucosal cancer.

2. Grilled, fried food → bowel cancer

The cause of concern for grilled foods, especially meat grilled foods, is closely related to two known carcinogens, namely heterocyclic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Protein-rich foods produce heterocyclic amines when cooked at high temperatures, while fats burn on the grill produce smoke that contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The vegetable oil used to fry food many times and the oil used in frying are too high, and more benzopyrene is produced. When the edible oil is heated to 270 ° C, the resulting fumes contain compounds such as benzopyrene.

3. Red meat → pancreatic cancer

Nutrition divides meat into red meat and white meat, of which red meat refers to the uncooked state, the meat is red meat, from this definition, the vast majority of mammalian meat is red meat. Common red meats include: pork, beef, lamb and so on. Studies have confirmed that excessive intake of red meat increases the risk of pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer and so on. Although red meat is classified as a Class 2A carcinogen, it does not mean "cannot be eaten". The World Cancer Research Fund recommends that the weekly intake of red meat should not exceed 500 grams.

How to reduce the risk of cancer?

1. Minimize exposure to carcinogens

The carcinogenicity of carcinogens is closely related to dose. Even Chinese-style salted fish containing Class 1 carcinogens is not carcinogenic when eaten once, but if you eat a large amount every day, the risk of nasopharyngeal cancer increases over a long period of time. In the face of many "carcinogen" reports and rumors, circle friends do not have to be too nervous, to treat rationally, changing eating habits is the most important.

2. Use less frying, frying and roasting, and more use steaming, boiling and stewing

Cooking methods play a vital role in the safety and nutrition of food. If you want to stay away from carcinogens in food, you should avoid stir-frying, frying, grilling, etc. when cooking, use more cooking methods such as steaming, boiling, stewing, etc., eat more fresh ingredients, and eat less processed foods.

3. Maintain a normal weight and avoid overweight and obesity

The body mass index (BMI) is calculated by dividing the number of kilograms of body weight by the square of the height meter, that is, the body mass index (BMI) = weight (kg) ÷ height (m2), and the BMI is normal and healthy at 18.5 to 24.9.

4. Keep exercising and avoid sitting for a long time

Sedentary lack of exercise, easy to bring overweight, obesity and other problems, easy to increase the risk of colorectal cancer and other cancers, it is recommended to work every 1 hour to 2 hours, get up and move for 15 minutes, at least 30 minutes of exercise every day, at least 150 minutes of exercise per week.

5. Guarantee the necessary sleep time

Usually, work and rest regularly and avoid staying up late. It is recommended that adults ensure 6 hours to 8 hours of sleep every day, the key is not to stay up late, remember not to turn on the lights when sleeping.

6. Maintain a regular and balanced diet, do not be partial to food

Usually, grains, meat, vegetables, and fruits should be eaten, and "junk food" should be avoided and reduced. If the dietary fiber intake is insufficient, it is easy to increase the risk of bowel cancer. Do not eat breakfast, overeat, eat too much, do not eat too much, do not eat too much.

7. Vaccination and regular physical examination

Prevention and control of hepatitis B and C infections, vaccination against hepatitis B; Prevention and control of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, hpv vaccination of age-appropriate populations; Timely and standardized treatment of precancerous states (precancerous diseases, precancerous lesions), etc. Regular physical examination, prevention before illness, prevention of disease.

Source: CCTV Life Circle