Sohu Health

Author Hu Xin

Editor Wu Shinan

“Elixir” may not exist, but choosing healthy foods wisely can help you live a few years or even decades. Recently, the Asian edition of reader’s Digest has reminded us of the following types of food to avoid or eat less in order to live longer.

processed meat

Nutritionist Dr. Roger E. Adams said long-term consumption of processed meat was associated with a variety of diseases, including heart disease and cancer. The World Health Organization classifies processed meat (most cooked meat, hot dogs, ham, bacon and sausage) as carcinogens. Twenty two experts from 10 countries reviewed more than 800 scientific studies and concluded that eating 50 grams of processed meat a day increased the risk of colorectal cancer by 18%. In addition, high sodium content in most processed meat can lead to an acute or long-term rise in blood pressure, increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, and affect life expectancy.

Diet drink

Most products containing artificial sweeteners, including the ever popular sugar free soda, may contain cancer carcinogens associated with brain tumors and some blood“ The neurotransmitters from aspartic acid in sweeteners do not bind to other amino acids and are neurotoxic Carolyn Dean, MD.

Excessive intake of carbohydrates and sugars

Flour, bread, biscuits, white rice, pasta, etc. are foods that provide a large amount of carbohydrates. Excessive consumption of carbohydrates will quickly convert into blood sugar, leading to insulin resistance, and then develop into diabetes or heart disease. According to Carolyn Dean, sugar causes a surge in insulin hormones and changes the simple form of glucose metabolism in the liver. Sugar also promotes oxidative stress and internal inflammation similar to “rust.”. These can lead to cell aging, wrinkles, etc. In addition, too much sugar can increase the burden on the adrenal gland and the immune system. When adrenal function is impaired, a person may have hypoglycemia, hypotension, hypothermia and other symptoms.

Food with monosodium glutamate

MSG may make food taste better, but it is associated with a range of health problems, including headache, blushing, sweating, facial stress or tension, numbness, tingling or burning, quickness, palpitations, chest pain, nausea, etc. Dr. Carolyn Dean suggests that eating foods without monosodium glutamate is good for your health.

High salt and high fat food

In addition to monosodium glutamate, popular foods in the West are often high in salt and fat. Dr. Roger E. Adams said high fat intake may increase the risk of obesity, heart disease and cancer. Large amounts of sodium added to these foods can also lead to a rapid rise in blood pressure, which can be harmful to the cardiovascular system if consumed regularly.

barbecue

According to Dr. Roger E. Adams, when high temperature contacts the meat surface, chemical reactions will occur to produce heterocyclic amines (HCAA) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These compounds are formed by dripping fat and juice from meat on an open fire. In addition, studies have shown that exposure to heterocyclic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons can cause cancer in animals, and the link between meat cooking techniques and cancer risk is still under investigation.

Fortunately, there are many ways to minimize this chemical reaction in meat. Dr. Roger E. Adams recommends simply marinating meat with a low sugar marinade and coating the meat in a sauce or oil, which can reduce or prevent the direct chemical reaction of meat fat with fire and produce chemicals that may cause cancer.

Trans fatty acids

French fries, pastries, biscuits and any fried food, most of them contain very high levels of trans fat. Trans fatty acids are associated with inflammation, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and other chronic diseases that shorten life span. Studies have shown that for every 2% increase in trans fatty acid intake, the incidence of coronary heart disease increases by 23%, and coronary heart disease is the main risk factor for sudden cardiac death.

Excessive drinking

Women drinking more than one drink a day and men drinking more than two drinks a day will have a negative impact on future health. There is a subtle line between the amount of alcohol consumed and the length of time consumed. Dr. Roger E. Adams said that while small amounts of alcohol may be good for your health, it’s not without risks. In fact, most studies on this issue have shown that the positive effects of alcohol are far lower than the normal amount of alcohol consumed by ordinary drinkers. Excessive alcohol can lead to heart disease, liver injury, pancreatitis, oral cavity, esophageal cancer, laryngeal cancer, liver cancer and breast cancer, affecting life expectancy.