10. GMO's
Genetically modified organisms, more commonly called GMO's, are foods that have been modified by chemicals and grown with chemicals.
In a study done by Dr. Pusztai at the Rowett Institute in Scotland, rats were fed GMO foods, especially potatoes. All rats showed damaged immune systems, pre-cancerous cell growth, along with smaller brains and livers, in just 10 days of the project. American consumers believe that FDA has approved these GMO foods and this is simply not the case.
The FDA has No testing procedures for GMO foods, NONE. The only human study ever published showed that those foreign genes are present in GM food transfer to the DNA in the bacteria in our digestive systems. We, the Americans consumer, are the guinea pig (or rat) in this case. Unfortunately, almost all grains, including soybeans, wheat, and corn, have been grown via GMO's.
11. Refined Sugars
Refined sugars are not only known to spike insulin levels, but also to be the most preferable food for cancer cells, thus promoting their growth.
Cancers seem to have a sweet tooth. This is a known fact that has been around for many years. The Nobel laureate in medicine, German Otto Warburg, back in 1931, first discovered that tumors and cancers both use sugars to "feed" themselves and/or to increase in size. In order to proliferate, cancer cells seem to prefer feeding on fructose-rich sweetners like high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS); the reason is that HFCS is being metabilized by cancer cells most quickly and easily.
Now it is clear why high-fructose corn syrup is considered the worst offender. And since cakes, pies, cookies, sodas, juices, sauces, cereals, and many other extremely popular, mostly processed, food items are loaded with refined sugars and HFCS in particular, this helps explain why cancer rates are on the rise these days.
12. Artificial Sweeteners
Most people use artificial sweeteners to either lose weight or because they are diabetic and must avoid sugar. The main problem in all this is that there are numerous studies that show people consume artificial sweeteners on a regular basis, such as in sodas, or coffee sweeteners, actually gain weight. It also does little or nothing to help those with diabetes.
In fact, artificial sweeteners actually make it even more difficult to control their blood sugar levels and worsen conditions that are related to diabetes such as cataracts and gastro paresis. Sometimes aspartame has been found to cause convulsions, which some people will mistake for an insulin reaction.
Not to mention that artificial sweeteners inhibit your body's ability to monitor its daily calorie consumption and make the body crave even more sweets. Well, we've already discussed how refined sugars can cause cancer. There is mounting evidence that the chemicals that make up these sweeteners, especially aspartame, break down in the body into a deadly toxin called DKP. When your stomach processes this chemical, it in turn produces chemicals that can cause cancer, especially brain tumor.
13. Diet Anything
Diet foods, including frozen foods, or prepackaged foods labeled as "diet" or "low fat", including diet sodas, generally contain aspartame, which is a chemical, artificial sweetener that we talk about in detail above. There are numerous studies showing that aspartame causes many diseases and sicknesses such as cancer, birth defects, and heart problems.
All "diet" food is chemically processed and made from super refined ingredients, excessive sodium levels, as well as artificial colors and flavors to make it taste good. Don't ever forget, artificial anything is NOT real food! Although the FDA says that all these added chemicals are save to eat, you might want to take their advice with a grain of salt. After all, don't they also tell you that sugar and vegetable oils are save to eat? (Not to mention GMO's and fast food!)
There have been many studies that show that these additives, for some people, can actually be addicting. They feed that "feel good" part in your brain, similar to cocaine! Well, that actually makes sense because if you become addicted to these foods, the companies making them are certain to score a lot of money, aren't they?
14. Alcohol
An American study that followed the diet and lifestyles of more than 200,000 women for almost 14 years found that postmenopausal women who drank one drink per day or less had an almost 30 percent increase in breast cancer rates compared to women who did not drink at all.
Alcohol use is the second leading cause of cancer, right behind tobacco use. While a moderate or low consumption of alcohol can be healthy and lead to a reduced risk of heart disease, excessive drinking is known to cause heart failure, stroke, and sudden death. In 2007, experts working for the World Heath Organizations. International Agency for Research on Cancer looked at the scientific evidence regarding cancer and alcohol use from 27 different studies. They sufficient evidence to state that excessive alcohol use is the main cause of mouth, esophagus, liver, colon, rectum, and female breast cancer. Don't fret! You can still enjoy that glass of wine with dinner, but for your health's sake, no more than one!
15. Red Meat
For those of you, who have T-bone steak, calm down. There is evidence that shows that red meat is actually a good thing in your diet, in small, infrequent amounts, Grass fed contains conjugated linoleic acid that actually fights against certain cancers.
However, in a study done over a 10 year period, eating red meat every day , even a small amount, such as that quarter pound hamburger you like to enjoy at lunch, increased a man's risk of dying from cancer by 22 percent and a woman's chance by 20 percent. A separate research study has shown that eating a lot of red meat increased the risk of breast , prostate, and colon cancer.
Red meat seems particularly dangerous when talking about colon cancer. A study done in the US followed almost 150,000 people between the ages of 50 and 74. This study showed that the long term consumption of red meat significantly increased the amount of colon cancer found in the subjects studied. On the other hand, the long term consumption of fish and poultry appeared to be protective in nature.
