The WHO (World Health Organization) reports:

“Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for 8.8 million deaths in 2015. The most common causes of cancer death are cancers of: lung (1.69 million deaths), liver (788 000 deaths), colorectal (774 000 deaths), stomach (754 000 deaths), and breast (571 000 deaths).”

This deadly disease “arises from the transformation of normal cells into tumor cells in a multistage process that generally progresses from a pre-cancerous lesion to a malignant tumor.

These changes are the result of the interaction between a person’s genetic factors and 3 categories of external agents, including: physical carcinogens, such as ultraviolet and ionizing radiation, chemical carcinogens, such as asbestos, components of tobacco smoke, aflatoxin (a food contaminant), and arsenic (a drinking water contaminant),  and biological carcinogens, such as infections from certain viruses, bacteria, or parasites.”

However, according to the website of the American Institute for Cancer, “Research has shown that most cancers can be prevented. Scientists now estimate that 60 percent to 70 percent of cancers are all preventable through currently available information and simple changes in diet and lifestyle.”

These claims are quite encouraging, and numerous experts maintain that a set of dietary and lifestyle changes can undoubtedly improve health and lower the risk of cancer.

Namely, researchers point to the associations between specific foods and cancer, so a healthy diet, rich in organic foods, and low in processed and sugary ones, in a combination with regular exercise, and reduced stress, can have a major influence on your cancer risk.

Here are the potentially carcinogenic foods that you should never consume again:

Processed Foods

Processed foods are full of sugars, white flours, oils, colors, flavorings and other unhealthy ingredients, associated with elevated chances for the development of cancer.

Refined Sugars

Numerous studies have found that sugar leads to various health issues, like illnesses, heart disease, obesity, weak immune system, unhealthy levels of blood fats, low HDL levels, higher blood triglyceride levels, and arthritis. Moreover, cancer cells thrive on sugar. 

Grilled Meat

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, are products of various kinds of combustion, like the burning of coal or wood. When meat drips onto a fire, they affix themselves to the food and raise the risk of cancer.

Microwave Popcorn

The microwave popcorn bags are lined with Perfluoroalkyls, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) as a way to prevent oil from soaking through them, but when heated, these chemicals leach into the popcorn and contaminate the blood when ingested. They have been linked to prostate cancer and various tumors in animal organs.

Cured and Smoked Foods

Processed meats like sausages, bacon, pepperoni, salami, hot dogs, and prosciutto, contain nitrates and nitrites as preservatives, which when cooked, convert into by-products called N-nitroso compounds, that are linked to an elevated cancer risk.

Non-Organic Fruits & Vegetables

The growing process of these crops involves pesticides, herbicides, and GMO seeds, many of which raise the risk of cancer.

BPA Lined Cans

Hard plastics and metal cans are coated with BPA, which has been linked to obesity, cancer, diabetes, and infertility. Therefore, make sure you always purchase BPA-free labeled cans.

Farmed Fish

Farmed fish is high in chemical pollutants, including PCB’s, a known carcinogen, and lead to numerous potential health risks, being treated with antibiotics and pesticides, and farmed in poor conditions. 

Soda/Sports Drinks

These drinks are rich in sugar, dyes, aspartame, high fructose corn syrup, and brominated vegetable oil (a flame retardant), and their consumption has been linked to a higher risk of cancer. 

Hydrogenated Oils

The chemical structure of hydrogenated oils, or trans- fats, has been changed to prevent the product from going rancid, but they weaken the immune system and raise the risk of various chronic diseases, inflammation in the body, and cancer.