FOTD: Cancer Proof Your Diet, Part 5
The final tip in our series on Cancer Prevention from
Limit saturated fat and trans fat
Saturated fats are found in animal-based foods, including beef, butter, lard, whole-milk dairy products (including regular yogurt, cheese, and ice cream), fried foods, fatty marbled meats (including hamburgers, hot dogs, salami, pastrami, and spareribs), and poultry skin.
Trans fats, developed to improve the shelf life of processed foods, are found in most stick margarines, some packaged baked goods and snack foods, fried foods, and fast food dishes that use or create hydrogenated oils. (All food labels must now list the amount of trans fats, right after the amount of saturated fats—good news for consumers.).
The role of saturated and trans fats in cancer is not entirely clear – but they’re generally bad for your health and should be dramatically limited by everyone. A few studies have shown an increased risk of breast cancer and prostate cancer… and we know that these unhealthy fats can increase levels of inflammation throughout the body, which may cause cellular damage over time. In addition, a healthy body means a healthy, cancer-fighting immune system.
