5 Foods to avoid that are linked to cancer

Top 5 Foods to Avoid
1. Bad Fats: Saturated and hydrogenated fat are solid at room temperature. Both are bad for your heart and increase risk for cancer. Regular consumption of saturated fat raises both total and LDL ("bad") cholesterol; Trans fat may act like saturated fats in the body -- by raising LDL -- but they also lower HDL ("good") cholesterol. Whole milk, butter, cheese, ice cream, red meat, and coconuts are rich in saturated fat. Although a tiny amount of Trans fat occurs naturally in meat, it's found mainly in margarines (except those labeled "Trans fat-free") and vegetable shortening. Even if a food item is labeled "free" of Trans fat, a serving may contain up to 0.5 grams. If you eat more than a single serving or a few servings of foods labeled "free" daily, you may be accumulating Trans fat in your diet. Read the ingredient list first and avoid "partially hydrogenated" oils.

2. (Some) Meat: Some meats packed in cellophane rank tops on the stupid list because they're processed with substances linked to colon, stomach and other cancers -- especially sodium nitrate. Research shows that frequent consumption of processed and red meat is associated with higher rates of cancer. Avoid bacon, sausages, breakfast meats, pepperoni, hot dogs and luncheon meats; try a veggie dog or tofu pup. Save lean red meat for an occasional meal and replace with grilled fish or a meatless meal of beans and rice, plus lots of veggies. Finish with fruit.

3. Burnt Meat: Don't char or burn meat or poultry on the grill, which may also increase cancer risk. An occasional barbeque is fine, but regular dining on well-done or charred meats increase your exposure to chemicals created when high temps break down an amino acid in meats. Fats dripping onto coals create more chemicals in smoke, which waft up and make the meat even more problematic. When grilling, precook meat or poultry in the oven or microwave and finish on the grill. It's OK if you char plant foods -- there are no fat drippings to worry you. Try a barbeque of meaty mushrooms, Tempe (fermented soybean cake), eggplant and zucchini.

4. Too Much Booze: A little may be good, but a lot can kill you. Although moderate consumption of alcohol may be healthy for your heart and even promote immunity. Consistently overdoing alcohol, however, increases risk for many cancers, including liver and some digestive cancers. Breast cancer risk increases with increased alcohol consumption.

5. Sugary Soda: Soda adds calories and promotes obesity, an independent risk factor for cancer. Soda displaces good nutrition; instead of drinking a glass of folate-rich orange juice, for example, reaching for a soda means you may not be getting enough of this cancer-fighting nutrient. There's some research that links soda and esophageal cancer, and although not conclusive, your health and waistline will no doubt benefit from avoiding sugared soda. By the way, diet soda's artificial sweeteners, additives and preservatives also displace cancer-fighting nutrients.