A doctor has issued a warning on social media about the alarming cancer risk posed by three popular foods and drinks that most of us consume every day.
The most dangerous of these is eating burnt or overcooked food, which contains toxic compounds that can increase the chances of developing prostate, colon and pancreatic cancer – one of the deadliest forms of cancer.
Burnt meat in particular contains "heterocyclic amines or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which in some studies have been shown to cause DNA damage, thus increasing the risk of cancer," explains London physician Dr. Sermed Mezher in a video on social media.
Previous studies have shown that high levels of these chemicals are created when meat is cooked over an open flame, as occurs during grilling.
Experts have long warned about the link between cancer and burnt foods containing carbohydrates, such as potatoes and bread.
This is related to the presence of a toxic molecule called acrylamide, which is formed when certain sugars and proteins combine during the heat process.
Analyses have shown a small link between exposure to this toxin and several types of cancer, including kidney, endometrial and ovarian cancer.
However, some experts argue that the amount of burnt bread or French fries that someone would have to consume to increase their risk of cancer is too high and unlikely to occur in everyday life.
Dr. Mezher also advises avoiding two other very popular products.
"Second on the list are processed meats like salami, bacon, sausages and pepperoni," he says, adding that the World Health Organization classifies these foods as group one carcinogens.
The danger comes from compounds called nitrites and nitrates, which are known to cause reactions in the body that can lead to the development of tumors in the intestine.
Within the digestive system, nitrates can be converted into a substance called N-nitroso chemicals (NOCs), which can damage the cells lining the colon – the organ that processes food – leading to the development of cancer, according to Cancer Research UK.
A 2019 study found that consuming just one piece of bacon a day could increase the risk of colon cancer by 20%.
This is a lower level than the NHS recommended limit, which is two slices of bacon or three slices of sausage a day.
At the bottom of Dr. Mezher's list is alcohol.
"It is associated with seven different types of cancer, as alcohol breaks down into a toxic byproduct called acetaldehyde, which can cause DNA damage and inhibit cell repair," he warns - GazetaExpress reports.
"We also know that alcohol can affect hormone levels and impair nutrient absorption."
In the description accompanying the video, Dr. Mezher writes that alcohol consumption is also linked to "liver disease, heart problems, and various types of cancer."
"Even small amounts increase the risk of breast and esophageal cancer, so it should be consumed with caution," he adds.
This warning comes at a time when experts are trying to understand the worrying rise in colon cancer cases in people under 50 in the UK and US.
Every year, over 44,000 new cases of this type of cancer are diagnosed in the UK, while in the US the figure reaches almost 142,000 cases.
Although most cases affect people over 50, rates in this age group have either remained stable or declined, while diagnoses in younger adults have increased by 50% in the past 30 years.
Doctors have suggested obesity, overuse of antibiotics, radiation from cell phones and even invisible plastic particles in drinking water as possible factors.
However, a growing number of experts are blaming ultra-processed foods, such as bacon and sausages.
Some have even gone so far as to compare them to tobacco – suggesting they should have health warnings similar to cigarette packets. /Express newspaper/
edition
t7 live
