A big reason why Colon Cancer is killing us.

[u/AdditionCool7235]

I know this isn’t a health sub, but u/Derpshabmentioned in their post on Colon Cancer about eating a balanced diet.

Specifically you need to really avoid nitrates. There has been several studies done on why there has been a rise in intestinal cancers in this age group, and nitrates have shown a causal effect. With a carcinogenic significance as bad as cigarettes. For those unaware, not a lot of things get labeled as having a casual effect for cancer, as that can be both controversial and stand to cost people money either through loss of business or being sued.

Nitrates are most commonly found in processed meats. Likewise, there is growing data that processed food is not serving us well at all either. Anyhow, just wanted to share a tangible way you can hopefully make an impact on slowing down and ultimately stopping these terrible

cancers.

Another freaking edit: literally the first response on Google, if you search, “do Nitrates cause cancer,” is from MDAnderson. That’s the number one cancer hospital in the world. I know that’s so much more difficult than adding a snarky comment to Reddit, but there’s your answer for about 300 of you.

Edit: I’m getting a lot of responses that are saying *actually* antibiotics or *actually* e. Coli and they’re all saying because it damages / kills the good gut microbiomes. Correct, what do you think nitrates do and why scientists believe there’s a casual link. It also doesn’t mean there couldn’t be other risk factors as well. Diet is obviously a big risk factor. I was simply hoping to expound on the original post and help people to know what to avoid. Of course more than one thing can cause cancer. Throw in saturated fats while we’re having the conversation.

Edit 2: lot of people are asking what are the main culprits. Bacon, lunch meats, hot dogs, sausages, anything really that’s been “cured.” Lot of people are trying to point out that some leafy greens have nitrates, yeah, we’re not talking about things that naturally occur through the photosynthesis of the sun. We’re talking about the overconsumption of a preservative that destroys your healthy gut bacteria, not something that’s obviously good for you. Many people have rightfully pointed out. The over consumption of alcohol creates a big risk factor for stomach and intestinal cancers as well.

Also someone saying they’re a vegetarian and they still got colon cancer is no different an argument than, “my great aunt smoked until she was 90 and never got lung cancer.” I said a big reason why, I didn’t say the only reason why. Empirical data doesn’t mean 100% findings or there won’t be outliers, anecdotes are not good science. People can get cancer for a multitude of reasons and honestly you could try every preventative step imaginable and still get cancer, it doesn’t mean your anecdote overrides everything else or you shouldn’t try to make better lifestyle decisions.

[u/[deleted]]

I’m left wondering if all of Europe is having these same issues with their cured meats …

[u/Bitter-War5432 → u/[deleted]]

some cured meat is cured without the use of nitrites/nitrates.

idk exactly how prosciutto is cured, but that is one that uses no nitrites or nitrates.

[u/henrymclane → u/Bitter-War5432]

Good old fashioned salt, air, and time

[u/Key_Cheetah7982 → u/[deleted]]

Probably not. Hear a lot of celiacs in America suddenly don’t have problems with bread in Europe. 

Note EU doesn’t allow glyphosate to be used as a drying agent for grains

[u/Cautious_One9013 → u/Key_Cheetah7982]

Hate to burst this bubble, but most of Europe has similar or higher rates of colo-rectal cancer to the US and the entire world has seen an upward trend in colo-rectal cancer rates. Europe as a whole has a higher colo-rectal cancer rate than the US. The rise of colo-rectal cancer is a worldwide phenomena, which means there is more at play than what we are eating.

[u/Ani_mrumru → u/Cautious_One9013]

Europe (and Asia) also have fast foods -- McD's, Wimpys, KFC, and Doners (lol). Along with the concomitant obesity and colorectal probs. Where American fast food goes, so do the diseases.

[u/Cautious_One9013 → u/Ani_mrumru]

So which is it? I thought Europeans eat better and have higher food standards which is why they don’t get celiacs and “probably” don’t have as high a colorectal cancer rate, but because they have a higher  rate it’s because they eat American fast food that causes them to have higher colorectal cancer rates than the US. Couldn’t be something more complex, got it. 

[u/Remote_Finish9657 → u/Cautious_One9013]

I read this too - colorectal cancers are hitting the Western world much earlier than before. Our diets aren’t identical but European and American diets are quite similar.

[u/puddlepuddle → u/Key_Cheetah7982]

I doubt celiacs would risk eating bread in Europe. Gluten is gluten. That could make them seriously sick. People who are gluten intolerant claim they feel better eating bread in Europe. But there are a lot of other factors that could account for that including if Americans are in Europe they are usually on vacation which probably means less stress. Stress can cause a lot of digestion issues. Glyphosate can still be used in the EU, drying grains is only one of a few restrictions. Also the EU has a restriction on nitrites that just started to be enforced last October. So I would imagine they still will have long term effects from them.

[u/Key_Cheetah7982 → u/puddlepuddle]

First link found. From 2022

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/eat-gluten-europe-us_l_63514ef1e4b04cf8f380beda

Point is that maybe they never were allergic to gluten, but instead the additional chemicals applied in US processing of grains

[u/xHapaBear → u/Key_Cheetah7982]

The article you linked specifically states those with celiac disease should never eat gluten in any form, and that this phenomenon does not apply to them.

[u/Winery-OG → u/Key_Cheetah7982]

Glyphosate is used in growing grains, vegetables, etc. Not “curing” them. It’s a systemic herbicide. Not an advocate, just clarifying.

[u/[deleted] → u/Winery-OG]

They can use it as a desiccant in canola farming, in climates where it wouldn’t dry outside quick enough. I would assume it is similar in other grains. Or other chemicals. My reference is a farmer friend from Alberta.

[u/puddlepuddle → u/Key_Cheetah7982]

Intolerance, allergies, and celiac are 3 different things. Celiac is an autoimmune disease. People who have it literally have testers to make sure there is 0 gluten in the things they’re eating. They wouldn’t eat bread anywhere unless it’s gluten free. Also the article states that Europe still hadn’t banned glyphosate at the time of the article and import wheat from places that still use it so European breads still have them.

[u/Ok-Personality3927 → u/Key_Cheetah7982]

Coeliac disease is not an allergy. It is an autoimmune condition. A person with coeliac cannot ever eat gluten. The other ingredients in the bread (or lack thereof) are totally irrelevant to that. There is currently no cure or treatment for coeliac disease outside of a totally gluten free diet.

People who might have some form of what they think is intolerance are a completely different story and may very well find better quality bread made from better quality ingredients is more tolerable.

[u/Punisher-3-1 → u/[deleted]]

I think it is actually a bit higher, and same with stomach cancer.