Preserved, grilled, smoked, moldy and frequently reheated food can cause cancer, according to a Cancer Institute and Hospital/Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences study.
1. Preserved food
The lifespan of food can be increased by using preservatives to control the growth of undesirable molds, yeast and bacteria that can cause illness. Most food is processed and packaged to prevent it going bad. These foods tend to be high in fat, sugar and calories. Eating too much processed food can lead to weight gain, stomach-related cancers and other health problems.
2. Grilled food
When meat is cooked at high temperatures, amino acids react with creatine to form heterocyclic amines, which are believed to cause cancer. Grilling is double trouble as it also exposes food to cancer-causing chemicals contained in smoke from burning coals.
3. Smoked food
There is a link between smoked food and an increased risk of certain cancers because of benzopyrenes and nitrosamines produced in the food-making process. Eating large amounts of smoked meat and salted fish increases the risk of stomach cancer which is associated with pain, indigestion, fatigue and nausea.
4. Deep-fried food
Regular consumption of deep-fried foods such as French fries, fried chicken and doughnuts is associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer, and the effect appears slightly stronger with regard to more aggressive forms of the disease.
5. Moldy food
Some foods have mold that is safe to eat and even delicious but others do the opposite. The study shows that rice, wheat, soybeans, corns and peanuts tend to grow mold in a humid environment and should not be eaten in such condition. Mold can cause allergic reactions and produce toxic substances called mycotoxins and aflatoxins.
6. Food that has been boiled too many times
Repeated boiling of food not only loses its original nutrition but can also produce unhealthy chemicals.
