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Eating well and living an active lifestyle are important. If we want to live our best lives and if we’re looking to take a proactive approach to preventing a cancer diagnosis, then how and what we eat is of great importance.  In this iteration of Take a Bite Out of Cancer, we highlight foods and elements in foods that fail to get us to our goal: a clean, cancer-free bill of health.

Where the Rubber “Meats” the Road:

Bacon: The mere mention is enough to send even a toddler into a rapturous bliss. Be that as it may, bacon is not on our list of to-dos for everyday consumption. Bacon, along with deli meats and char-grilled meats, contains pronounced amounts of chemicals, preservatives, and nitrates. In bacon and cold cuts, these preserve the foods, but in our bodies, they create a more hospitable environment for cancer cell production and growth. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the linkages between cancer diagnoses and the consumption of red and processed meats are becoming more pronounced.  In fact, the WHO ranks red and processed meats in the same category as smoking and asbestos!!! Grilling fans, be warned, the charring on the meats can also be carcinogen-rich. True, these are tasty, convenient, and enjoyable, but if you’re serious about avoiding a cancer diagnosis, these foods are best consumed in moderation.

• Avoid: Bacon, sausages, hot dogs, ham, salami and pepperoni, ribs; if you do choose red meat, choose something lean – at least 93%
• Linkages: High intake of these foods is seen as a proven contributor to bowel and colorectal cancers.
• Limit red meat: Eating too much red meat, like pork, beef, lamb, deer, and buffalo, can increase your cancer risks. Try to limit red meat to 18 oz. or less each week to keep your cancer risks low.
• Alternatives: Eat like a Greek!! Much of the Mediterranean fare is in line with a cancer-busting diet! Here are some great ideas and recipes. Veggies, olive oils, legumes, lean meats, spices, fruit, and, yes, dessert! Opah!
• Grilling: Choose veggies to grill and eat grilled meat in moderation

Something Fishy

No one doubts the goodness derived from the Omega-3 fatty acids present in fish like salmon. I remember growing up hearing our own mothers refer to fish as “brain food.” So how did it end up on the naughty list? Well, not all fish are farmed fish. Fish not caught in the wild are farmed in environments treated with antibiotics, pesticides, and other carcinogenic chemicals used to kill viruses that thrive therein. These elements concentrate in the fish’s meat and are passed on to the consumer.  Moreover, because they are farmed in large numbers, they don’t have the same room to run and grow, and therefore, the fish may not develop the same high levels of Omega-3s and may contain up to 20% less protein.

• Avoid: All farmed fish, swordfish, tilefish, shark, king mackerel, marlin, and ahi tuna; they are higher in mercury, which repeated exposure may cause brain, kidney, and developmental problems. This is especially true for pregnant and nursing women and young children.
• Linkages: Carcinogens in farm-raised fish may contribute to general cancer diagnoses.
• Alternatives: Wild-caught fish is best! Farm-raised and “Atlantic” do not qualify.
• The best: Wild-caught fresh or canned salmon, cod, and other fish not listed above.
• Guidelines: Eat 2 servings a week (about 8 ounces total) of a variety of fish and seafood – recommendation from the USDA.
• TIP: Visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium for information on the best choices of fish in your state. A convenient mobile App is available. Or visit the Environmental Protection Agency.

Bubble Trouble

Sodas and carbonated beverages are a no-go if your goal is to prevent cancer. Chemicals, dyes, and the ever-vilified high-fructose corn syrup all contain properties that research shows may be cancer-causing. This is because they, too, help make our bodies more susceptible and a better host environment for cancer.  More specifically, research indicates cancer cells treat sugar like an accelerant. If you think about our bloodstream like a highway, fructose creates an EZPass lane for cancer cells to divide and grow! No good news for the “diet” cola drinkers either. Experts show that diet soft drinks are chemically poisonous to our systems, they contain no nutrients, and ironically have been proven to contribute to weight gain!

• Avoid: Colas, sodas, diet sodas
• Linkages: Research has shown that the compounds in High Fructose Corn Syrup may be linked to pancreatic cancer
• Alternatives: If you really need bubbles, go with seltzer, but be picky. There are “zero-calorie” flavored waters that contain artificial sweeteners. A better alternative is to drink seltzers with real fruit essences, and in moderation; remember, 8 cups of water a day is best. Infuse water with fruit, citrus, basil, cucumber, mint, and more for other great benefits.

Potato Chips, Fries & Microwave Popcorn

These yummy treats, unfortunately, come with some rather insidious “extra” ingredients.  Microwave popcorn contains a carcinogen called PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid), and the artificial butter contains diacetyl, which has been proven to damage your lungs when inhaled. Recently, the popcorn companies lost a landmark case to the tune of $7 million in relation to PFOA. Unfortunately, they aren’t scheduled to remove these chemicals until 2018. Potato chips and French fries are comfort food. But the side effects of the hydrogenated oils they are fried in serve up a dose of unhealthy trans fats, of which no “safe amount” exists. Trans fats, paired with the extreme amounts of salt with which they’re usually served, increase blood pressure and inflammation in the body – a cancer-causing concern. It’s also worth noting that potatoes are one of the “dirty dozen” most pesticide-treated veggies on the farm – so choosing an organic grown potato is a wise alternative.

• Avoid: chips, fries, and other foods cooked in hydrogenated oils, microwave popcorn
• Linkages: microwave popcorn can cause “popcorn lung,” trans fats are linked to multiple cancers & heart disease, and generally weakens the immune system.
• Alternatives: Popcorn – pop your own, add flavors! French fries – buy organic and bake your own. Potato chips – bake or fry your own. Opt for organic butter, olive or vegetable oil.

Great alternatives for all these taboo goodies are readily available at the local mega-mart or online. Here’s to putting our 21st-century know-how to work and cutting cancer off at the dinner table. To your good health!