Cancer is a worldwide pandemic, and a leading cause of death in Australia. According to Cancer Council Australia, 114,000 new cases of cancer were diagnosed just last year and 43,000 Australians died of cancer. The Australian government states that the most common cancer for Australian women to develop is breast cancer, and that 1 in 4 women will develop cancer by the time they are 75.
These statistics are terrifying – but Australian women are not helpless to keep themselves safe and healthy. Every day, new research brings more information about cancer to light. The more we learn about the carcinogens that cause this terrible disease, the more we can do to prevent it.
A new scientific study in the British Journal of Cancer tells us that one of the major carcinogens today is acrylamide. Acrylamide is a chemical substance which is created when foods are fried at high temperatures. Carbohydrate-rich foods like potatoes and cereal are most likely to form acrylamide.
Previously, acrylamide was already known to cause cancer when introduced into animals in high concentrations. The study states that acrylamide increased the risk of breast cancer in pre-menopausal women by 20%, adding to the evidence that even in the tiny concentrations present in food, acrylamide can cause cancer in humans at an alarming rate. Another study in the journal Cancer Epidemiology concluded that women who consume a serving of potato chips each day are twice as likely to develop ovarian or endometrial cancer.
Acrylamide was discovered by researchers at the Swedish National Food Administration and Stockholm University in 2002. Acrylamide only seems to appear when food is cooked at temperatures higher than 120°C. This carcinogenic neurotoxin has been discovered in both fried and oven-baked foods, but never in raw or boiled foods. It tends to be found in starchy, carbohydrate-rich foods more than any others. It is believed that the sugars present in those starchy foods react with amino acid asparagines at high temperatures, creating acrylamide. “Shoppers is able to reduce their experience of acrylamide simply by confining their consumption of potato chips along with French fries…and quitting smoking, which is a major source of acrylamide,” stated Mary Ann Johnson, PhD of the American Society for Nutrition.
What are the 5 top foods to avoid which are high in acrylamide?
- Potato crisps: 1000 micrograms/kg
- French fries: 500 micrograms/kg
- Breakfast cereals: 200-300 micrograms/kg
- Instant coffee: 200-300 micrograms/kg
- Breads: 50-100 micrograms/kg
Other foods to avoid containing acrylamide include doughnuts, biscuits, cookies and popcorn.
Girls can certainly more affordable their own chance building cancer malignancy not only by avoiding fried foods but also by eating healthily. Some good foods to concentrate on eating are boiled potatoes, rice, pasta, fruits and vegetables. Porridge is a better choice than breakfast cereal for a morning snack. Green tea and red wine are believed to have cancer-fighting properties due to their great concentrations of antioxidants. Antioxidant supplements like N-acetyl cysteine and lipoic acid can help combat the carcinogenic effects of acrylamide.
Cancer is a sobering reality, but even simple lifestyle changes like eating right can go a long way to help women reduce their odds of developing cancer and living long, healthy lives.
