It is sad but true that many of the best tasting foods are the worst for us. That’s because they are artificially constructed to ramp up the flavors we naturally crave – sugar and salt – to levels never found in nature. In other cases, it is the growing or packaging processes that cut corners and put consumers’ health at risk.
Don’t let the mega-food producers of the world play around with your family’s safety! Check out our list of five cancer causing foods to avoid, or at least consume in moderation.
Microwave popcorn
Popcorn in general is a relatively healthy snack, so it’s really too bad that the most convenient way of popping it actually makes it extremely unhealthy. The reason is that those microwave bags are lined with a chemical called perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).
Many studies have revealed that consuming PFOA can cause cancers of the kidney, bladder, liver, pancreas, and testicles.
Soda
You already know that soda in general is not the healthiest due to shockingly high levels of sugar, which contributes to weight gain, inflammation, and insulin resistance.
But you may not have realized that soda also contains artificial colorings and chemicals, such as derivative 4-methylimidazole (4-MI), that are known to increase cancer risk.
3. Canned foods
The problem with canned foods is the storage. Almost all aluminum cans are lined with cancer causing bisphenol-A, or BPA for short. Tomatoes and other foods with high acidity are especially dangerous to eat out of a can because the acid tends to leech BPA directly into the food at high levels.
Buy fresh or frozen produce, unless the can is specifically labeled as BPA-free.
4. Potato chips
Not only are chips exceedingly high in fat and sodium, they also contain artificial flavors, preservatives, and food colors that the body just can’t recognize as food.
The method of preparation – frying at high heat – achieves that desirable crispy texture but also creates acrylamide, which is a recognized carcinogen that’s also found in cigarettes.
Processed, smoked, and red meats
This list includes things like steak, hamburgers, hot dogs, bacon, sausage, and lunch meat. Processed meats are a problem because they contain preservatives like sodium nitrate, which is great for keeping the product looking fresh but can cause cancer. Smoked meat is dangerous because it takes on tar during the smoking process!
And red meat in general, eaten every day, has been shown in studies to up your cancer risk by as much as 22%.