Cancer cannot be prevented entirely. But changing daily habits can help lower the risk of developing it.
U.S. health outlet EatingWell recently identified four kitchen habits worth changing, drawing on advice from oncologists, according to medical sources on the 22nd. The four are high-heat cooking, reusing plastic containers, drinking alcohol and using disposable cups.
Grilling or charring food directly over high heat can create harmful compounds such as heterocyclic amines. Specialists said these substances are known to be linked to breast and prostate cancer. The U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI) also recommends avoiding cooking methods that expose food directly to flames, reducing cooking time at high temperatures and removing charred portions. Slow-roasting meat in an oven or steaming it are alternatives.
Processed meat consumption also warrants review. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), an arm of the World Health Organization (WHO), classified sausage, ham and similar products as Group 1 carcinogens in October 2015. Group 1 means there is sufficient evidence to support carcinogenicity and does not indicate the size of the risk. The IARC said eating 50 grams of processed meat daily could raise the risk of colorectal cancer by about 18%. If the baseline risk is 1%, that amounts to an increase to 1.18%.
Repeatedly reusing plastic containers or heating food in them raises the possibility that chemicals and microplastics transfer into the food. Still, the mere detection of microplastics is not enough to conclude that everyday exposure causes cancer. The basic rule is to use containers according to product instructions and to check whether they are safe to heat.
Alcohol is a well-known carcinogen, specialists said. Cutting back on drinking was cited as an important habit for lowering cancer risk. Alcohol-free beers and wines, along with fermented drinks low in sugar, were mentioned as alternatives.
Frequent takeout coffee leads to the use of disposable cups. One specialist said that using a personal stainless steel tumbler can reduce exposure to the plastic lining or coating inside cups, while also cutting costs and easing the environmental burden.