Introduction
Cancer is a global challenge affecting over 25% of the world. Information from the WHO shows that in 2022 alone, there were over 20 million new cancer cases and 9.7 million cancer-related deaths.
Cancer arises from several factors including poor dietary habits, genetics, exposure to radiation or environmental pollutants, and lifestyle choices such as excessive use of alcohol and tobacco. While cancer may come with peculiar symptoms it is important to note that there are over 100 different types of cancer and each comes with its unique characteristics. Patients often experience different symptoms including unexpected weight loss, fatigue or tiredness that doesn’t go away, changes in bowel habits, or the appearance of their skin. Although there is no one-size-fits-all approach to managing or reducing the chances of developing cancer, Nesas Hemp has put together this article as a list of possible dietary habits that can make your cancer worse. Note that this content was put together as a guide and should not be taken as a doctor’s prescription or recommendation. We suggest you visit a medical practitioner for further guidance.
Common dietary habits that can make your cancer worst
If you are dealing with cancer, there are eating patterns you want to stay away from. They can hurt more than help – making treatment side effects or symptoms worse as well as the disease itself. Here are a few examples:
- Eating Too Much Sugar: Some research suggests that high levels of insulin can accelerate the growth of certain cancers. Insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels, can promote cell proliferation and inhibit cell death, processes that cancer cells exploit to grow and spread. Insulin resistance, often caused by a diet high in sugar and refined carbohydrates, leads to higher circulating insulin levels. This condition, known as hyperinsulinemia, has been linked to an increased risk of cancers such as breast, colorectal, and pancreatic cancer.
Furthermore, being overweight or obese significantly raises the risk for many types of cancer. Excess body fat contributes to chronic inflammation and alters hormone levels, including increased levels of estrogen, insulin, and insulin-like growth factors, which can stimulate cancer growth. Sugar-laden foods and drinks are major contributors to weight gain, as they are high in calories but low in nutritional value. Consuming these foods and beverages can lead to obesity, further compounding cancer risk.
- Processed and Red Meats: Eating a lot of processed meats like bacon, sausages and deli meats and red meats such as lamb, beef and pork could raise your risk of colorectal cancer – and possibly other cancers too. Processed and red meat contains nitrates and nitrites that become N-nitroso chemicals (NOCs) that can damage the cells that line our bowel. This damage can lead to bowel or colorectal cancer.
- High Fat Diet:
If you eat a lot of saturated and trans fats – think foods like French fries, baked goods, margarine, and snack chips – you’re more likely to become obese and have chronic inflammation. Both of these raise your chance of developing several kinds of cancer, including colorectal and breast. Body fat cells do more than just store excess energy when you gain weight. They also make hormones such as insulin and estrogen; too much of them can help tumors grow. And while damaged tissue normally calls in the immune system to repair it, fatty foods can cause inflammation that’s long-lasting (low-grade). This constant active state may end up harming healthy cells as they divide — as well as creating a helpful environment for newly developing cancerous ones. Reducing saturated and trans fats in your diet is a good way to lower this risk factor for colorectal/breast cancers as well as overall health support.
- Excessive Alcohol Consumption:
Drinking alcohol raises the risk of various cancers, such as those affecting the liver, throat, mouth, esophagus, and breast. When the body breaks down alcohol, it produces acetaldehyde—a toxic chemical that may harm proteins and DNA. Moreover, alcohol can hamper nutrient absorption and weaken the immune system. Both mechanisms make it tougher for the body to kill cancer cells or stop their growth. For people undergoing cancer treatment, these effects may be compounded. Alcohol can prevent medications from working properly, making treatment less effective. It can also worsen some side effects like fatigue, dehydration, and gastrointestinal problems. To reduce the risk of developing cancer — and to help ensure treatments are as successful as possible — experts say it’s important to limit alcohol intake.
Too much drinking can mess with the endocannabinoid system (ECS). This system also affects mood, pain, appetite, and immune response. So if it doesn’t work right because of all the alcohol you’ve been consuming? You might end up even more anxious or depressed—plus your body could start causing extra inflammation that creates perfect conditions for cancer to grow. On top of those issues, there is also evidence suggesting an alcohol-weakened immune response may not recognize things like tumor cells when they show up—which isn’t great news if somebody needs treatment for cancer or wants their body to recover from it! Inesa Ponomariovaite, founder and CEO of Nesas Hemp describes the endocannabinoid system as the body’s master regulator that controls important life processes including fighting against diseases and maintaining internal balance that keeps us healthy.
- High Salt Intake:
Diets high in salt are strongly associated with an increased risk of stomach cancer. Excessive salt intake can damage the stomach lining, creating a conducive environment for the growth of Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium linked to stomach cancer. Salt can also directly damage the cells in the stomach lining, leading to inflammation and increased cell turnover, both of which can raise cancer risk.
Beyond increasing cancer risk, high salt intake can lead to hypertension (high blood pressure), which poses additional challenges for cancer patients. Hypertension can complicate cancer treatment, making it more difficult to manage the side effects and overall health of the patient. High blood pressure can also exacerbate cardiovascular issues, which are common among cancer patients due to the strain of both the disease and its treatments on the body.
Conclusion
Cancer is a serial killer that has taken many lives and deeply affected families and communities everywhere. Because it can strike anyone at any age, the disease is feared by all. Although doctors and researchers have made great strides in understanding and fighting cancer, there are still types that baffle them – and these can bring terrible results. The cost of this goes beyond the number of people who die from it each year: what also has to be considered is how much suffering their deaths cause, as well as any financial hardship; With an aging population growing each year alongside healthcare improvements that make longevity more likely things like diseases become bigger problems than they once would have been so need better management strategies overall too! Preventing cancer and finding out whether someone has one early because treatment may work best before cancers spread are other areas where a lot needs to be done if we are going get grips with effects down the line.