She has beef with these seven items.
Nicole Andrews, a Washington-based oncology nutritionist and author, shares seven foods and drinks that she warns can increase your risk of developing or returning cancer.
In a June TikTok with 2.9 million views, Andrews recommended avoiding alcohol, processed meats, soda, red meat, coffee drinks, white grains and plant-based milks.
alcohol
Cheers…no alcohol? Andrews revealed that she is a teetotaler in the name of improving her whole body, saying: “I don’t drink any alcohol at all. Alcohol of any kind, including red wine, increases the risk of six types of cancer.” .”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, alcohol increases the risk of cancer of the mouth and throat, larynx, esophagus, colon and rectum, liver and breast.
Alcohol increases your risk of cancer because your body doesn’t digest alcohol, but breaks it down into a chemical called acetaldehyde. This can damage your DNA and prevent your body from repairing itself. The more you drink, the greater your risk.
In a previous TikTok, Andrews said the best first step you can take to reduce your cancer risk is to cut out alcohol completely.
processed meat
Is the cutting board next? Processed meat.
“Any consumption of processed meat increases the risk of colorectal cancer,” says Andrews.
“Whether it’s pepperoni or cooked meat,” she continued. “If you ingest it, you will increase your risk of cancer.”
Andrews said she specifically avoided deli meats and hot dogs and decided to make her own healthier version with raw sausage and whole-grain bread.
Her advice comes from experts as well.
In 2015, the World Health Organization named processed meat a carcinogen, noting that there is “sufficient evidence from epidemiological studies that eating processed meat causes colorectal cancer.”
Processed meat falls under the dubious banner of ultra-processed foods. A recent study reported that people who consumed 10% more UPF than others had a 23% higher risk of head and neck cancer. Experts believe the increased cancer risk may be due to nitrates in meat combining with compounds in the body and damaging cells.
soda
Andrews avoids soda, especially when eating out. “When I go out to eat, I don’t order sugary drinks.”
If you opt for water or unsweetened iced tea instead, she explains that soda, especially the unlimited sodas at restaurants, can add up to a lot of extra calories.
“Excess fat tissue in your body increases your risk for 13 different types of cancer,” says Andrews.
As the paper previously reported, older women who drink just one sugary drink a day have a “significantly increased risk” of developing liver cancer and dying from chronic liver disease.
And people who drink diet soda are no exception. That’s because these drinks usually contain artificial sweeteners like aspartame and Ace-K.
Last year, the World Health Organization’s cancer research arm classified aspartame as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” and called for further research into its potential health risks.
Additionally, a 2022 French study found that aspartame increased risk of stroke; Ace-K increases risk of coronary artery disease.
Consuming sugary and artificially sweetened drinks has also been shown to increase your risk of heart disease.
red meat
For Andrews, red meat is a red flag when it comes to cancer.
She points out that moderate amounts of red meat are not correlated with increased cancer risk. However, consuming more than 18 ounces of red meat per week has been shown to increase the odds of colorectal cancer.
Red meat is rich in nutrients, but it contains heme iron, which can promote the production of cancer-causing chemicals.
Andrews says: “I typically eat only one serving of red meat a week or none at all. When I eat out or cook at home, I tend to eat less red meat, such as chicken, turkey, fish, seafood, and even soy. Build your meals around different types of plant-based proteins.”
coffee drink
Coffee has countless health benefits, and consuming three to four cups of coffee a day has been shown to reduce the risk of liver cancer and other alcohol-related liver diseases.
A recent study also found that consuming coffee in moderation may lower your risk of developing a combination of diabetes, stroke, and heart disease known as cardiometabolic multimorbidity.
However, these benefits diminish when coffee reaches the level of dessert. If you’re a Frappuccino fan, Andrews recommends opting for a few key changes. “During the summer, I like cold coffee or blended coffee, but these can quickly become very high in calories.”
She said she would get a child-sized drink and order a half-sweet one. This hack effectively cuts the sugar and calories in specialty coffee drinks in half. Specialty coffee drinks often contain more sugar per cup than you should consume in a day.
white grains
When it comes to grain, Andrews never chooses white varieties. “I’m a die-hard whole grain fan. Whole grains help reduce your risk of colon and breast cancer, and because they’re less processed, you also get more fiber and nutrients.”
She explains that while white grains, such as those found in white bread, are not clearly linked to increased cancer risk, their lack of fiber makes them a poor choice overall. Masu.
plant milk
Despite the popularity of milk alternatives, Andrews said she always chooses nutrient-dense, full-fat dairy products. “I don’t drink plant milk…because it’s very low in protein.”
She also said the “amazing” calcium found in milk reduces the risk of colorectal cancer.
Her preference is supported by experts who warn that plant-based options are not necessarily nutritionally equivalent to animal-based ones.
As reported by the Post, the compound transvaccenic acid (TVA), found in dairy products such as milk, cheese, butter, and yogurt, activates T cells that help the immune system fight bacteria and tumors and protect against disease. It looks like it’s going to change.