Dr. Mercola February 05 2008 70,472 views
New research shows that a high dietary intake of acrylamide can increase the risk of breast cancer. The study was the first epidemiological study using biological markers for measuring acrylamide exposure, and also the first to report an acrylamide/breast cancer link.
I first warned readers of the dangers of acrylamide nearly six years ago in April of 2002. Since then many other studies have been published, confirming the initial findings that acrylamide can cause cancer in humans.
For example, this study adds to last year’s findings by Janneke Hogervorst and co-workers from the University of Maastricht, who examined data from more than 62,500 women and found that increased dietary intakes of acrylamide could raise your risk of endometrial and ovarian cancer by 29 and 78 percent respectively.How is Acrylamide Created?
Acrylamide, a “probable human carcinogen,” is formed in several foods as a result of a reaction between specific amino acids, including asparagine, and sugars found in foods when they reach high temperatures during cooking or processing.
This reactive process is known as the Maillard reaction, and occurs at temperatures above 212°F (100°C). As a general rule, acrylamide is formed in vegetable-type foods when you heat them enough to produce a fairly dry and brown/yellow surface.
Hence, it can be found in many common foods that are baked, fried, roasted or toasted, such as:
Acrylamide is Not the Only Danger
However, acrylamide is not the only dangerous genotoxic compound formed when food is heated to high temperatures.
A three-year long EU project, known as Heat-Generated Food Toxicants (HEATOX) -- whose findings were published at the end of 2007 -- found there are more than 800 heat-induced compounds, of which 52 are potential carcinogens.In addition to their finding that acrylamide does pose a public health threat, the HEATOX scientists also discovered that you’re far less likely to ingest dangerous levels of the toxin when you eat home-cooked foods compared to industrially or restaurant-prepared foods. Additionally, the HEATOX findings also suggest that although there are ways to decrease exposure to acrylamide, it cannot be eliminated completely. According to their calculations, successful application of all presently known methods would reduce the acrylamide intake by 40 percent at the most…For more in-depth information regarding their findings and consumer guidelines, I recommend reading their online report Heat-generated Food Toxicants, Identification, Characterization and Risk Minimization.
How to Protect Yourself from Acrylamide and Other Toxic Compounds
Most of the problems with cancer-causing byproducts stem from factory farmed, highly processed foods in general. Ideally, you should consume foods that are minimally processed, and come from local, environmentally sustainable sources.
At the same time, over half of the foods you eat should be uncooked and eaten in the raw state. It may take you awhile to get to that point, but in the meantime, you can start by avoiding processed foods, which simply have no redeeming qualities whatsoever, such as doughnuts, all sodas, French fries, and potato chips.
In addition, you can reduce your exposure to these cancer-causing chemicals by throwing away your Teflon-coated cookware.
I personally think we are being distracted from the more serious causes of cancer. I agree french fries are not healthy food, but way back when Breast Cancer Awareness Day was created by some ladies from NJ protesting chlorine chemical plants and the cancer cluster in their area, Dow Chemical took over sponsorship of the event and began to "review" all the literature produced for the event. Surprise! No more talk of chemicals causing cancer. The first thing diverted to was "fat women are responsible for their own cancer" and the discussion has worked ever since. We go running like lemmings over the edge of "What can we do/eat/not eat to prevent our own cancer," while the chemical companies produce more pvc, fertilizer and pesticides world wide. Do you feel manipulated? Wake up.
You are so on target, Susjust. We always have to look underneath the shiny exterior. Good observation.
Hey foxtroter, you only noticed the obvious. I thought that baked or barbequed "fries" were OK, and did not realize that toast was a carcinogen!
Come on. My mother wore a bra for 91 years and died of old age. She never had breast cancer. I'm 65 and I have not had breast cancer either, even though I've always worn a bra.
You are barking up the wrong tree, lady.
Wearing a bra may not seem natural to you, but with those of us that are of a larger size, it is definitely more comfortable than bouncing.
And throw out the antiperspirant, well any with aluminum in them anyway. New German medicine has some interesting stuff about which breast gets cancer due to which type of trauma. However more women get cancer of the left breast and surprise, surprise the body's lymph system goes in that direction.
As I did, many MANY years ago! Okay, so I still put one on to attend weddings and funerals, but that's about it! You can get camisoles with a little built-in support that aren't compressing anything, and that will do the trick for the most part, unless, of course, you were blessed with a lot more than I have. ;-)
Aaltrude
You may be onto something. Many European women do not wear bras and their incidence of breast cancer is much lower than that in the US. I stopped wearing a bra when I started nursing my firstborn and the pain in my lymph nodes went away. The lymphatic system was allowed to work the way it was designed and and natural drainage occurred. I remind my teens now not to wear a bra to bed.
If true, then every woman would have breast cancer. Mammograms pinch, flatten, crush, and harm breast tissue. I believe this would be much worse than the bra I wear that just holds me up and in place. My bra does not crush, maim, flatten, or pinch me because it is the right size. No bra burning for me, please! :)
Sweet! I'll just have to find bigger jeans to wear since my sagging, droopy, breasts will add more inches to my waist.....LOL!
I know wearing a bra sounds "bonkers" to some, but I often wear my bra 24 hours. I am large-breasted and NOT wearing a bra can be uncomfortable for me, I need the support. But I guess I should maybe cut back on wearing it. I'll check out that book. Thanks for sharing it with us.
I'll have mine lightly toasted, thank you.
Look up the Lymphatic System and try to understand what it does and how it can be impaired??
Look at a diagram on the Internet and if you look closely you’ll see where the lymphatic system is restricted by Bra-Straps.
The question is, “what happens when the lymphatic system in this are is blocked by straps, wire, or plastic supports”?
The work of the lymphatic system is reduced with the strap pressures and its primary job of removing excess fluids can not be done effeciently. The next question is, “If the lymphatic system can not remove waste to the circulatory system for disposal, what happens?”, or where does it go?
In addition to the normal flow of the lymphatic system being impaired, the added use of cosmetics, perfumes and deodorants, which have artificial colors and fragrances that may be harmful, are not readily removed from the system and who knows what damage these chemicals are causing.
Look up the links below and do more study on the Human Body. Look at the lymphatic system and try to make sense of the diagrams and actual functions. The more you read the more you’ll learn and understand.
Save Yourself
miyessence.files.wordpress.com/.../lymphatic.gif
en.wikipedia.org/.../Lymphatic_system
UMOJA Research
Well, I don't think it is the bras. It is something called gravity that pools lymph at the bottom of the breasts over time. As with other lymph issues the body encounters, once the lymph stops moving it turns into a hard gel that cannot travel through the lymph system. The only way to eliminate this is through lymphatic breast massage and/or inversion. If you agree that lymph carries away toxins, you can see what can happen if the system is blocked up and those toxins cannot be eliminated. The sad fact is that the breasts are not the only place this occurs. It happens throughout the body. Many people that you would say are fat or obese may, in fact, have lymphedema. Diet and injuries may have caused the problem but specialized massage is the only way to pump the lymph to the nodes and out of the body. Western doctors only have drugs and surgury to resolve the issue which causes more damage.
Sydney Ross Singer was an anthropologist. Under wire bras are the worst. Us woman don't want to have saggy breasts, so giving up bra wearing is hard to do.Imagine jogging without one. All that bounce & stretching of the supporting ligaments. But native bear breasted women live in cultures that see aging pendulous breasts as normal. Breasts cause a lot of woman unwanted anxiety..wrong shape, size etc. We seem to be the only mammal that has full breasts when not lactating. Chimp's breasts are mainly flaps of skin that hang slightly when not nursing their young. If human breasts were like that, we wouldn't need to worry about their appearance & strap them up, or have surgical lifting and/or implants. Then there's the opposite problem of them growing too big & uncomfortable & needing reduction surgery.
I have found that wearing an organic bra that has no wires or clasps or straps that pull, is the answer for me. I daresay that the lymph is free to move in this healthier environment. "Blue Canoe" is one brand that sells them. When I switch back to an underwire bra, I feel terrible!
I plan to keep eating my occasional roasted veggies, thank you! It seems that EVERYTHING causes cancer, yet not everyone gets cancer. It makes me wonder just how much of this is genetically inherited...
Boiled meat just doesn't have the same taste as fried or grilled. Being a low-carb heavy meat eater, I will continue to grill, fry, roast, broil, and toast my foods. My health has never been better than it has been the past few years when I went low-carb. I eat little of the starchy foods, but I do on occasion "pig out" on pizza, bread, and potatoes. Just not all at one sitting! (lol) I eat starches maybe once every two months, then back to my regular diet of meat, eggs, cheese, and a few veggies. And yes! I do ingest many supplements to compensate for lack of fruits, though I eat these occasionally, too. I have one or two days every 6-8 weeks where I eat anything I feel like eating such as pizza or potatoes or apples or bananas, then I go back to eating the way that seems to fit my own profile.
Early man ate a lot of roasted meats over an open fire.......I like mine the same.
Good point, Lori. I agree with you about the fact that it seems everything causes cancer....I think moderation is the key. And attitude! But I am just wrapping my head around the "Eat Right 4 Your Type" ..Dr. D'Adamo has some interesting theories and I am soon to embark on high protein, less carb, tho it will be hard as I do love homemade bread! I am definitely a meat-eater!
To countryclassic49,
The Eat Right For Your Type (blood type), diet by Dr. D'Adamo, is not supported by Dr. Mercola. It has nothing to do with metabolic typing. Dr. M went on the blood type A diet (high carb) & became diabetic. When he tried metabolic typing (he's a protein type), his health was restored.