Do we start worrying for cancer only when we get old?
Is cancer only a concern when we are older, or have a specific lifestyle e.g. smoking, or have to endure our annual haze season? In reality, cancer is more likely to be a total sum of different contributing factors, and we will take a look at 3 such factors.
Air Pollution
Air pollution is a major cause for cancers, especially lung cancer. With climate change and an increase in the number of cars on the roads, emission of black carbon or soot has also increased. A joint research done by NTU and The Chinese University of Hong Kong found that every 0.1 microgram per atmosphere of black carbon, will result in a 8% - 14% increase in incidence of lung adenocarcinoma cancer. ^1 It is actually worse than the air pollution from smoking.
“We are what we eat”
Many of us aren’t living the healthiest lifestyles due to our busy and hectic schedules. And food pollution will also increase the chances of cancer.
Processed Meats:^2
Studies have shown that consumption of processed red meat increases the risk of colorectal cancer. Processed meats usually go through the process of smoking, curing, salting or adding preservatives. During these processes, cancer causing chemicals such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) will present itself. These chemicals can cause damage to our DNA and if not repaired, can result in colorectal cancer.
High sodium diet:^3 &^4
Foods that are high in sodium, carbohydrates and fat will also increase the risk of cancer. In particular, processed meats and refined carbs increase the risk for stomach cancer and other diseases such as coronary heart disease and diabetes. Examples of such foods are fast food (local – char kway teow and western – burgers & fries) and instant noodles.
Long shelf life:^5
Apart from unhealthy diet food and processed meats, food staples such as canned food also contribute to cancer. With canned food, they mostly have a long shelf life. Luncheon meat, for example, has an average shelf life of 3 years. However during the process of
treating the meat for canning, additives such as sodium nitrite are added to keep the meat consumable until the end of the shelf life. Consuming too much additives negatively affects our gut health, and can result in digestive issues. Overtime, it will inevitably increase the risk of chronic illnesses and cancer.
Healthy Food – Are they really healthy?
When we talk about healthy food, many will think of consuming more greens and fruits. From seeds, to fully grown veggies and fruits, to what we get in the supermarket, how much pesticides and insecticides were used? In the span of 1.5 years, The Straits Times has released 5 articles on suppliers getting fined for illegally importing fruits and veggies.^6 These suppliers were caught for importing fruits and veggies that had pesticides level above the accepted range of 0.05 to 70 mg/kg.^7 Long term consumption of pesticides can lead to cancer and damage of the reproduction, immune and nervous systems.^8
Organic Food:
Although organic greens are free from pesticides and insecticides, they tend to be much pricier than regular food. Using olive oil as an example, regular extra virgin olive oil costs $8.99.^9 Organic extra virgin olive oil from the same brand costs $13.37, ^10 that’s ~50%
more! The high costs usually makes it prohibitive for the majority of us to pursue an organic-based diet.
It is impossible to completely eliminate all risks associated with cancer and other diseases. But we can definitely assess the level of risk of our chosen lifestyles, and ensure that we will be financially prepared if illness befalls us.
Consult Chloe for certainty of the type, amount, and duration of illness coverage that you have. Financial preparedness is often our best defense.
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