These foods can increase your cancer risk!

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: Some time ago, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - a part of the World Health Organization (WHO) - has classified processed meat as a carcinogen, something that causes cancer.

The cancer agency of the WHO has also stated that red meat in general “probably” causes cancers such as colon, pancreatic and prostate cancer. Red meat includes beef, pork, lamb and goat.

While the IARC review does not ask people to stop eating processed meats, it indicates that reducing consumption of these products can reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.

Considering the fact that these foods can cost your health, it is always wiser to make some healthier choices and cut your risk than regret it later. Here are some foods to avoid, based on IARC report:

• Hot dogs - Eating 50 grams of processed meat every day increased the risk of colorectal cancer by 18%, and that’s the equivalent of about 4 strips of bacon or 1 hot dog.
• Sausage – Another kind of processed meat, eating just one-and-a-half sausages a day could increase your risk of cancer by up to 18%.
• Ham – Ham is a processed meat and has also been linked to high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases due to its very high sodium content.

• Beef jerky – Beef jerky is also kind of processed food and contains high amount of sodium nitrate, a carcinogen that gives beef jerky its appealing colour.
• Red meat – Although red meat is a major source of iron, zinc and vitamin B12, consuming 100g of red meat a day could increase the risk of cancer by 17%.