Foods and Beverages To Limit or Avoid

Alcohol

Studies show that regularly consuming alcoholic beverages increases the risk for some forms of cancers. That includes cancer of the oral cavity (that is, tissue in the mouth, other than the lips), throat, larynx (voice box), esophagus (windpipe), liver, breast, colon, and rectum. The increased risk is dose dependent, that is, the more you drink, the more likely you are to develop cancer.

Charred meat

Cooking meat with high heat, such as in a frying pan or on a grill, can cause it to char. This process produces chemicals called heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that have been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals. While their effect on humans is less clear, some evidence points to an increased risk for certain cancers, especially colon cancer. The longer you cook meat, the more HCAs it forms. Meanwhile, smoked meats also tend to have high levels of PAHs (which are found in tobacco smoke and automobile exhaust, too). HCAs and PAHs can form in beef, pork, fish, and poultry that is cooked at high temperatures. Briefly pre-cooking meat in a microwave oven or marinating it in wine or beer (which are rich sources of antioxidants) before cooking may help reduce formation of HCAs and PAHs.

Processed meats

A number of studies indicate that a diet rich in processed meats such as ham, salami, and baloney increases the risk for colorectal and stomach cancers. Consuming these deli favorites may also raise the risk for certain other cancers, including pancreatic cancer and lung cancer. If you include them in your diet at all, make them a rare treat.

Sweets

All cells in the human body require a basic form of sugar called glucose to survive. That includes cancer cells, so some people have wondered whether consuming sugar feeds the growth of tumors. Your body can get all the glucose it needs from healthy foods, such as fruit, and by making it from starch in other foods, such as grains (preferably whole grains), and both of these food groups have other nutrients to offer, too. But candy, soda, cakes, cookies, and other sweets are empty calories that do nothing but contribute to weight gain. And studies show that being overweight or obese increases the risk for colorectal, breast, ovarian, and pancreatic cancers, among others. If you have a sweet tooth, keep it in check.