Chemicals in food that are linked to cancer?

[violaine]

I've heard that there are chemicals in some kinds of foods and ingredients that have been linked to cancer. Is this true, and if so, can anyone give me more information on the kinds of chemicals and foods to avoid?

[rekstout]

The short answer is that ANYTHING can be linked to cancer through the magic of statistics and tenuous links (a bit like the "Seven Degrees of Kevin Bacon" game)

In general try to eat nothing to excess - avoid processed and non-organic food and eat plenty of fibre and you will be doing far better than most.

[j2buttonsw]

I'd avoid the carcenogenic chemicals in food: they are notorious for causing cancer.

[Hamish]

Chemicals wich have been shown to cause cancer are strickly controled (in the UK at least). If they are used a register of who used and how much has to be kept.

there are ofcourse many that have been roumored to cause cancer and I would echo rekstout here.

[tracymort]

for starters i avoid aspartame and any artificial sweetener - disgusting stuff linked to brain tumours and more http://www.whatreallyworks.co.uk/start/kidszone.as
p?article_ID=398 . Unfortunately it seems to mainly be used in food stuff aimed at children! The Food Commission produce posters about additives and a newsletter too - http://www.foodcomm.org.uk/

[aloha]

1. Eat real foods that you prepare yourself. It's the man-made additives that are the worst. 2. Eat more foods with natural antioxidants i.e. broccoli, cabbage, or tomatoes, chilies, carrots. 3. The answer that someone wrote "avoid carcenogenic chemicals" gave me a laugh. And, finally,some wisdom from an American comic: Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing. Redd Foxx