Eating barbecue and other types of grilled food can increase your risk for breast cancer

Here in the Philippines, grilled food is pretty much a way of life. Whenever you go to any Filipino restaurant, there’s always some form of grilled or barbecued food available on the menu. A lot of busy moms and dads also buy barbecue to eat for dinner since it’s more convenient.

However, according to a recent study from the US, eating grilled, smoked, or barbecued food can put women diagnosed with breast cancer at a higher risk of death.

Barbecued, grilled, and smoked food are no-no’s for cancer patients

Based on the study, women who have been diagnosed with cancer that also eat barbecued, grilled, or smoked meat are 23% higher risk of dying from cancer.

And out of the 3 options, smoked food has been tied to a 17% greater risk of death, and 23% higher risk of dying from breast cancer.

According to Humberto Parada, a researcher at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, “There are many carcinogens found in grilled or smoked meats, and one of the most common are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), which are formed during combustion of organic material.”

Women can be exposed to these carcinogens because of cigarette smoke or air pollution, which are also associated with the risk of developing breast cancer.

Dr. Mingyang Song, a researcher at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and Harvard University adds, “These chemicals can be produced from wood smoke or when fat and juices from meat grilled directly over an open fire drip onto the fire, creating flames and smoke.”

This is why women who are at risk of cancer should do their best to avoid eating a lot of smoked, grilled, or barbecued foods.Bri

What are the best cancer fighting foods?

Photo from: Flickr.com

The types of food that you eat have a large effect on your health. Here are some foods that are not only delicious, but they’re also good for you!

• Leafy greens – Leafy greens, such as spinach, kale, lettuce, watercress, etc, are full of antioxidants that can fight cancer. They’re also rich in vitamin C, and beta-carotene.
• Cruciferious vegetables – Cruciferous sounds like a big word, but cruciferous vegetables are veggies like broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, and cauliflower. These veggies are full of vitamin C, and glutathione, which is a very powerful antioxidant.
• Berries – Berries such as cherries, raspberries, strawberries, etc, are chock-full of vitamin C and cancer fighting antioxidants. They’re also a delicious and tasty snack that you can give your kids instead of giving them junk food or sweets!
• Brightly colored fruits and vegetables – Brightly colored fruits and vegetables such as citrus fruits, sweet potatoes, and squash, are full of different types of carotenoids, which are cancer fighting antioxidants that also improve your immune system’s function.
• Organic meat – Organic meat including beef or chicken liver are full of nutrients and rich in vitamin B12. Eating chicken liver also helps cleanse toxins from your blood and your digestive tract.

Source: gmanetwork.com

READ: A Breast Cancer campaign uses lemons to educate women about the malady

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