Alcohol is a known human carcinogen, increasing the risk of cancer even when drunk in moderation. In addition to alcohol, there are other 5 drinks and foods that increase the risk of cancer.
Diet can have some influence on the risk of certain types of cancer. Certain foods and drinks can increase the risk of disease, and some others have shown a protective effect.
“Scientists have studied many foods and dietary components to find possible associations with increased or decreased cancer risk,” notes the National Cancer Institute.
5 drinks and foods that increase the risk of cancer
Alcoholic beverages
The American Cancer Society states that alcohol consumption is one of the most important preventable risk factors for cancer. All alcoholic beverages, including red and white wine, beer, and spirits, are linked to cancer.
Alcohol can act in different ways and increase the risk of developing different types of cancer: cancer of the mouth, throat, larynx, esophagus, breast, liver, colon and rectum. No amount of alcohol is safe. Even being moderate, the consumption of alcoholic beverages can increase the risk of some cancers, such as breast cancer.
Alcohol use accounts for approximately 6% of all cancers and 4% of all cancer deaths in the United States.
Processed meats
Processed meat is classified as carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
Twenty-two experts from 10 countries reviewed more than 800 studies and concluded that each 50-gram serving of processed meat consumed daily increases the risk of colorectal cancer by 18%. The risk increases with the amount of meat consumed.
Processed meat refers to meat that has been transformed by salting, curing, fermenting, smoking, or other processes to enhance flavor or improve shelf life. Examples of processed meat are hot dogs, ham, bacon, sausage, and deli meats.
Red meat
The consumption of red meat is classified by the IARC as probably carcinogenic to humans. This association is mainly for colorectal cancer, associations are also observed for pancreatic cancer and prostate cancer.
Red meat is considered to be that which comes from mammals, such as beef, veal, pork, lamb, lamb, horse and goat.
Read: What type of salt and what maximum amount should we consume to take care of our health
Harvard Health publishes that a meta-analysis of 29 studies concluded that a high consumption of red meat increases the risk of colon cancer by 28%.
Artificial sweeteners
Some observational studies have associated the consumption of certain artificial sweeteners with an increased risk of cancer; however, the National Cancer Institute notes that there is no clear evidence indicating that the artificial sweeteners available on the United States market are associated with the risk of cancer.
Studies have been conducted on the safety of several artificial sweeteners, including saccharin, aspartame, acesulfame potassium, sucralose, neotame, and cyclamate.
Sugary drinks
The consumption of sugary drinks has been positively associated with the risk of cancer in general and breast cancer in some studies, such as the one published in 2019 in the BMJ. However, further research is required. Indirectly, these drinks favor an increased risk of disease.
Sugary drinks promote obesity and according to research from the American Cancer Society, excess body weight is believed to be responsible for about 11% of cancers in women and about 5% of cancers in men in the United States.
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