Stomach Cancer Causes
8. Diet
We all love authentic Spanish chorizo or bacon in our sandwich. However, these are cured meats and, along with other types of cured meats, they have been shown to increase gastric cancer risk. Curing refers to food preservation processes (i.e. of meats, fish, etc.) by the addition of salt and/or other agents like potassium nitrate and sodium nitrate. Diets high in these N-nitroso compounds have been shown to increase the risk of stomach cancer. Furthermore, diets high in salt have been shown to increase gastritis and the effects of known carcinogens, also leading to an increased risk for gastric cancer. Finally, a diet high in smoked foods is also a risk factor for this condition due to its high content of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
On the other hand, a diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables appears to lower the risk of stomach cancer.
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