Cancer dietitian reveals one food she refuses to eat
Topics: Health, Food and Drink
Jen Thomas
Featured Image Credit: Instagram/oncology.nutrition.rd
Topics: Health, Food and Drink
It can feel overwhelming at times knowing what foods to eat in order to stay as healthy as possible, especially when everyone on the internet seems to have some very strong opinions on the matter.
Whether it's an influencer raving about their latest diet, or your parents lecturing you over ordering a takeaway, who could blame you for being confused.
Well, a cancer dietitian has now spoken out and given her official opinion on the one food she will never eat.
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Oncology dietitian Nichole Andrews has shared her thoughts of the food that can be terrible for your health.
She has revealed there is one meal in particular that she avoids as she’s worried they will raise her risk for colon and other cancers.
"Knowledge is power, and I’m here to drop some truth bombs about how to reduce cancer risk," the author of the F*ck Cancer cook book said.
"Learning simple ways to reduce cancer risk or reduce risk of recurrence can make all the difference for your mental and physical health on a day-to-day basis," Andrews said as she shared three activities you won’t find on her to-do list.
So, what's the one food you'll never find on Nichole's plate?
Processed meats
Say goodbye to pepperoni pizza, bacon sandwiches and more, says Nichole.
The meats in question have been salted, cured, smoked or chemically preserved in order to have a long shelf life.
This can include things like deli meats, sausages, hot dogs, bacon, corned beef, ham, pepperoni and beef jerky.
While they may be delicious, Nichole says they're just not worth the risk.
According to The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer, processed meats such as these are 'carcinogenic to humans'.
They made the declaration back in 2015 due to 'sufficient evidence from epidemiological studies that eating processed meat causes colorectal cancer'.
The processed meats contain heme, nitrates and nitrites, which can damage cells lining the bowel, increasing cancer risk, reports the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas.
Not only that, but the act of cooking them can also release more nasties.
When cooked at a high temperature, the processed meat can produce heterocyclic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. These are chemicals that have been shown to cause cancer in animals.
If you're looking at a glass of wine or a pint to go with that pepperoni pizza, Nichole says you should think twice about that, too.
“I omit all alcohol from my life. I’m sure you’ve seen it, probably even in passing today, that alcohol is fun, it gets you through the day — mommy wine culture, de-stress, all those things. Nope," says the dietitian.
She also warns against excessive supplements, saying: "Think twice before overloading on supplements. Some studies suggest that excessive intake of certain vitamins and minerals may actually increase cancer risk and harm healthy cells."