The dreaded “C” word. Many environmental factors like the sun, pollution and second-hand smoke can cause cancer. Unfortunately, recent studies have shown that popular foods, drinks and alcohol can also cause it. Some of these foods are probably in our kitchens right now.

1. Refined Sugar

Refined sugar, we use a lot of these in our Nigerian homes to cook, eat cereal, pap and for our coffees and teas. It earned the nickname “Poison” because this sweetener is totally and completely bereft of any nutritional value. The pet name “Leach” comes from the vitamins and nutrients it saps from the body in order to be digested. Refined sugar, like the kind you pour in your coffee, eat as sweets, or that’s in store-bought tomato sauce you pour on your spaghetti, has been credited with feeding cancer cells. Now research says refined sugar might actually cause cancer.sugar

2. Mineral Drinks

Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Seven-up etc might taste good, but that taste is the result of lots of sugar, colors and chemicals that add acid to the body that can spawn the growth of cancer cells. One study linked fructose, a type of sugar used in sodas, with pancreatic cancer. Another study found that the 4-methylimidazole in soda is a potential carcinogen. (4-methylimidazoleis a bi-product of caramel color which is used to turn colas and soft drinks that delicious brown hue.) The study stated that drinking just one can a day routinely could be enough to cause cancer cells to develop. Oh, let’s not forget the sugar, typically in the 40 grams per 12oz can neighborhood. Psst: that’s 10 teaspoons of sugar—in one can of pop! With so many other beverage options, maybe leave Coke, Fanta etc alone or minimize.Coke

3. Processed Meats

Hot dogs or sausages for our Shawarma are a processed meat—they’ve been treated in some way to preserve their shelf life or to improve their flavor. This “processing” can be done by salting, curing, fermenting, smoking, or preserving in some other way. After reviewing 800 studies, The World Health Organization announced that process meats are a carcinogen (i.e. they can cause cancer). They reported that eating the equivalent of four slices of bacon daily (or eating four slices of bacon daily) raises the risk of getting colorectal cancer by 18 percent. The risk is low but present. Meats that fall into this category are not sold fresh and include ham, turkey, some deli, bacon, sausage and of course, hot dogs.Hotdogs

4. Red Meat

This is a tough one because our consumption of red meat in Nigeria is high. Going to the Buka's around the country, when you hear the amount of red meat demanded by customers on their plates, you can;t help but be flabbergasted. The restaurant owners are not helping either, they load you up with "orisirisi" and eat as much as you want. World Health Organization(WHO) looked at red meat studies and concluded that red meat is a “probable” cause of cancer in humans. They found links between eating red meat and colorectal, prosatate and pancreatic cancers. Enjoying small amounts of grass-fed red meat occasionally is very different from eating quantities of red meat daily, and the WHO parks pork in the red meat category.redmeat

5. Microwaved Popcorn

Though micro =waved pop corn is not very common in Nigeria, the health risk still needs to be pointed out. What could be easier than tossing a bag in the microwave, pressing a button and then voila: delicious popcorn?! Popcorn is a healthy snack offering potassium, iron and fiber. But microwave popcorn comes with some risks, cancer being one. A chemical that lines the microwavable bag decomposes and forms a compound that has been linked to liver and pancreatic cancer. A separate chemical used to flavor the popcorn can cause the lung condition called bronchiolitis obliterans. One way to decrease your chances of developing this is to let the bag of heated popcorn cool before opening it. One way to avoid all the ailments is to use a hot air popper or the stove top to pop your kernels. Remember to go easy on the butter!

6. Dirty Fruits

This is one most of us are guilty of, I see a lot of hawkers selling fruits in traffic, most of us buy and eat right away without washing. This is like eating pesticides.In the effort to make fruit unappealing to insects, we make the fruit unhealthy for humans. The bugs might pass because of the pesticides, but then the poisoned fruit winds up in your market and then on your table. Best to spend a little extra on organic. Otherwise, you might pay for it later.Dirty fruits

7. Potato Chips

Yoruba's have a saying: "what will kill the sick person, is what S/he would like to eat". Most of us know potato chips are highly processed and contain a chemical that’s activated with high-temperature cooking. The chemical, acrylamide, is found in plastics and paper making as well as in cigarette smoke. Test done on rodents show that it causes cancer and probably will also cause cancer in human beings also.

8. French Fries/Chips

Since French fries are potatoes, and cooking potatoes in high temps activates acrylamide (remember potato chips?), this makes French fries a hazard. It doesn’t stop there. Potatoes are on the Dirty Dozen list of fruits and veggies with because of the high quantity of pesticides they retain. Then there’s the obvious danger: frying. But that’s more a heart-related risk than a cancer risk.frenchfries

9. Catfish

Yes o catfish!!! Nigerian Catfish Pepper Soup (popularly known as Point & Kill) is that Nigerian pepper soup that is usually eaten at exclusive Nigerian bars and restaurants, its delicacy is irresistible to many people – is very common at social gatherings. It tastes great and is affordable when compared to other varieties of fresh fish in the market but it is also a cancer causing agent.They’re also treated with antibiotics and pesticides that are well-known carcinogens. Doctors are however quick to point out that eating catfish is a lot better than read meat.Catfish

10. Canned Tomatoes/Paste

The lining in the cans of tomatoes contains a chemical known as bisphenol-A, or BPA. It is toxic, and it lines other canned foods as well. Tomatoes, however, due to their acidity, cause the BPA to leech from the lining of the can and enter the actual tomatoes. Not good. BPA in cans has been linked to several health issues including heart disease, diabetes and cancer. The danger is multiplied when tomatoes are in the can. It is recommended to use fresh organic tomatoes.canned tomatos

11. White Flour Bread

Agege bread comes to mind when discussing white flour bread. For flour to become white, it has to be refined (which strips it of all nutritional benefits) and then bleached, typically using chlorine gas. If you eat white bread, for example, you are eating bread that is devoid of nutritional benefit, even if nutrients were put back in, called “enriching.” Thus, you’re not getting any disease-protective properties you would get from other foods. Also, white flour is high on the glycemic index which means your blood sugar and insulin levels spike after eating it. There is evidence that the process that ensues may have cancer-promoting effects. There was a study stating that refined carbohydrates were linked to a 220% increase in breast cancer among women. Whole wheat bread might be the better choice.Agege bread

12. Alcohol

This should not be a surprise. Too much alcohol can lead to liver poisoning or liver cancer. Scientists have found that some cancers are more common in heavier drinkers. Mouth, throat, breast and bowels are susceptible to developing cancer as a result of drinking too much alcohol. The type didn’t matter. The quantity consumed over time did matter.. Even too much consupmtion of red wine is bad for the health.

http://www.ibadancityng.com/see-12-cancer-related-foods-we-eat-in-nigeria-some-may-surprise-you/

Noted

OP, you are a joker. You are mentioning science this, science that, from your source, I won't take you serious because it is glaring that you are not the original investigator of this write up. If you want me to take you serious, put direct link to every point you listed up there.

my grandfather ate all these but he lived up to 90. my broda it is GOD that saves not WHO

That's practically all we eat in this country
What should we eat then?

So what are we going to eat?
No bread, no meat, not even popcorn

What remain again. .frozen fish or snail?

Am really confused

Highly informative. Well done dear OP

Ok. When u asked us to stop eating all this, what sud we eat den?_U forgot to add garri.

Rubbish! Dey keep telling u what to eat and what not to eat. Only if they know dat some people got nothing to eat let alone chosing what to eat. Too many theories about food n if u r to follow dem, u will die of hunger.

wetin person go come chop

sugar o, coke or Pepsi o me no like them before....I love my back the way they are and won't let anything damage it....others I for try but Omo men alcohol how I wan leave Legend extra stout? Make God be my strength!!!

Leave point n' kill? OP which bush de burn for your side.