Over the decades, numerous studies have stated that consuming certain foods can increase the risk of developing cancer, and more particularly, breast cancer. Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death among women, but it can be treated if diagnosed early. Apart from treatment, dietary changes also help manage this disease, and they might also help prevent the onset of the disease.

Apples, grapes, and strawberries are beneficial foods linked to breast cancer as they help slow the growth of adenocarcinoma tumors, which are the leading cause of deaths due to breast cancer. On the contrary, the following are some common foods that should be avoided as they are linked to increasing the risk of breast cancer:

Fish
Certain types of fish are rich sources of healthy fatty acids like omega-3. However, contrary to popular belief, farmed fish do not contain any healthy fatty acids or vitamin D because of the pollutants in the water these are bred in. These fish are grown in overpopulated indoor pools and are contaminated with high doses of mercury, pesticides, and numerous other carcinogenic chemicals, due to which these fish have been among the foods wrongly linked to reducing the risk of breast cancer.

Canned foods
Canned foods, especially acidic foods like tomato and pickles, and even canned vegetables and fish like sardines and tuna tend to react adversely with the bisphenol-a, commonly known as BPA, apart from another toxic substitute, PVC plastic, coated inside food cans. Research has confirmed that the exposure of these foods to BPA and PVC, both carcinogens, is specifically linked to breast cancer.

Sugar
It is common knowledge that sugar increases insulin levels and directly feeds cancer cells, enabling them to grow, multiply, and metastasize. A whole load of processed and packaged foods found on the grocery store shelves, including cereals, cookies, cakes, juices, sodas, and sauces, are loaded with high-fructose corn syrup, which means these foods are directly linked to breast cancer.

Alcohol
Regular and heavy alcohol consumption is linked with a higher risk of developing breast cancer risk in women. Alcohol causes disruption in the estrogen levels, which adds to the risk of cancer.

Hydrogenated oils
All hydrogenated oils are suspected to be carcinogenic because free radicals are released when they are heated at high temperatures, especially when frying. Free radicals cause oxidative stress. The same is the case with other vegetable oils like corn, sunflower, and palm, which encourage the growth of cancer cells. Hydrogenated oils are used extensively for preserving processed foods longer.

Processed meat
Charred foods, especially processed meat, when cooked at high temperatures, release toxins. Processed meats like bacon, cold cuts, jerky, and sausages contain nitrates that are converted to nitrite during digestion. The high levels of fat, salt, and preservatives in these meats also increase the risk of breast cancer.