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I’m a cancer dietician and these are 10 things I don’t ever eat or drink
It’s no secret that certain foods and drinks increase your risk of cancer, and cutting out things like fast food and sugary items and alcohol can dramatically reduce the likelihood of developing the disease.
Nichole Andrews, a registered oncology dietician who specialises in nutritional changes that can prevent cancer, has shared 10 foods and drinks that she does not consume – and she recommends that you don’t either.
10 things cancer dietician does not eat or drink
“I’m gonna tell you 10 things that I do not eat or drink as it does not help with the cancer prevention lifestyle and I’ll explain why so that you can continue to build a cancer prevention lifestyle too,” she said on TikTok.
1. Alcohol
First up, she doesn’t consume any alcohol at all, on any occasion. She explained that “all types of alcohol” including red wine are going to increase your risk of many different cancers.
Alcohol causes seven types of cancer, including breast, mouth and bowel, Cancer Research UK states, as it gets broken down in the body into a harmful chemical. Cutting down will instantly reduce your risk.
2. Pepperoni pizza
The next thing she doesn’t eat is pepperoni pizza, because processed meats increase colorectal (bowel) cancer risk “at any consumption”.
Instead, she will have cheese, vegetables and fresh meats like chicken, but will always avoid pepperoni and salami.
3. Deli meats
For the same reason, Andrews never has deli meats like ham, chorizo or pancetta in her sandwiches or wraps either.
As well as raising cancer risk, processed meats can also cause a high blood pressure due to the salt content.
4. Sugary beverages
The cancer dietician doesn’t drink any sugary beverages either, as they contain loads of calories which can quickly increase your body fat tissue.
Obesity is one of the key causes of cancer, including breast and bowel, the NHS explains, so it’s really important to keep to a healthy weight.
5. Hot dogs
Hot dogs are a popular food during the summer, but they are a type of processed meat too, like pepperoni and ham.
Instead, she grills raw pork sausages that have not been preserved, and always uses a whole wheat bun as that reduces cancer risk too.
6. Sugar in drinks
The expert doesn’t put sugar in any drinks, like tea or coffee, and uses artificial sweeteners like Splenda instead.
She claimed that despite what you may see online, artificial sweeteners “do not increase cancer risk” and are a safe, calorie-free alternative.
7. Too much red meat
Next up, she tries not to eat too much red meat as it can increase your risk of colorectal cancer if you eat 18oz or more per week.
She usually keeps it to one portion of red meat per week or none at all, and builds meals around chicken, turkey, fish and soya instead.
8. Coffee drinks
Andrews does drink coffee, but she never orders the largest size or the ones that are full of loads of sugar.
Coffee does not increase cancer risk, but the drinks can be really high in calories, making you more prone to obesity.
9. White grains
The dietician never eats white grains, like white bread or rice, and always opts for whole grain options instead.
Eating 90g of whole grain foods daily reduces the risk of colorectal cancer by 17%, the American Institute for Cancer Research found.
10. Plant milks
Finally, she doesn’t drink any plant milks, such as soya, almond and oat, because cows milk is so much more “nutritionally packed”.
If you have a dairy intolerance or allergy, plant milks are a good alternative, but they are very low in protein in comparison.
Nichole Andrews is a registered dietician nutritionist and cancer nutrition specialist with more than 12 years of experience, who gained her degree in Food Science & Human Nutrition from Washington State University.
