With the hustle and bustle that goes on in our daily lives, it’s easy for us parents to prioritise convenience in our lives. Sadly, these little conveniences have harmful effects that we can’t easily see.
Food is the perfect example of this.
Processed meat is one of the top offenders. According to a 2015 study by the World Health Organization, it is one of the most cancerous food out there. But it is only one of the many.
Here are 10 more cancer causing foods that you need to avoid, as suggested by Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.
1. Sunflower seeds
Although they may seem harmless, sunflower seeds easily absorb and accumulate heavy metal compounds, especially if they are grown in metal-laden soils. Heavy metal is notoriously known to cause lung cancer.
2. Chewing gum
Gum base may not be toxic, but some ingredients found in gum are. These include aspartame and titanium dioxide. So the next time you buy gum, make sure these are not on the ingredients list.
3. Monosodium Glutamate (MSG).
Often added to food to make it tastier and more flavourful, Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) poses many risks to human health according to studies.
4. Pork liver
Not only is pork liver high in cholesterol, it is also found to be associated with liver cancer and other health ailments.
5. Glass noodles and rice noodles
One essential food additive that is used in such noodles is called “Alum.” Many research established a link between Alum and breast cancer, as well as Alzheimer’s disease for others.
6. Pickled vegetables
We have been taught since we are little that vegetables are healthy and generally good for our health. But according to Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, if they’re pickled, they may be doing more harm than good. Pickled vegetables are generally believed to increase risk of gastric cancer.
7. Bottled juice
Juice comes from fruit, and fruit is healthy, therefore juice is healthy. Right? Yes and no. Fruits, even though they are healthy, are still loaded with sugar. And sadly, not all juices are made with fresh fruit. In fact, most bottled juices are pumped with artificial flavouring and sugars.
8. Preserved eggs
The use of lead in preserving eggs is one of its major safety concerns. Lead, even in tiny amounts, can be toxic to humans—especially when ingested. Before consuming preserved eggs, do your research and find out if lead has been used in its processing.
9. Fermented tofu
During the fermentation process, tofu has been proved to be extremely vulnerable to microbial contamination. That’s why it’s important that you only eat fermented tofu that came from a reputable source.
10. Youtiao (deep-fried bread sticks)
According to Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, deep-friend foods such as youtiao, increases the risk of prostate cancer in men.