Carcinogens are chemical compounds whose effect on the human body is one of the main causes of the appearance and development of malignant tumors or benign neoplasms.
Properties of carcinogens
Carcinogen is a harmful agent that, due to its own chemical and physical properties, can lead to irreversible damage to the genetic apparatus, which contributes to the body's loss of control over the somatic development of cells. Harmful toxic substances lead to changes in cells at the genetic level. As a result, a previously he althy cell ceases to perform its functions.
Saturation of the body with carcinogenic substances is a danger to he alth and life, regardless of their nature and concentration. In this case, the negative impact may not appear immediately. However, carcinogens are not only harmful chemical constituents, but also numerous physical factors, invisible radiation and some microorganisms.
Pesticides
Probably, it is not a big secret for anyone that in the cultivation of plant foods, chemicals are increasingly being used to destroy plant diseases, pests and all kinds of parasites. Such substances are known as pesticides. Chemical carcinogens like these improve crop yields, plant productivity, and extend the shelf life of end products.
However, the harmful effects of pesticides do not only affect parasitic organisms in a negative way. Toxic substances tend to accumulate in plants. Consumption of vegetables and fruits previously treated with pesticides leads to a slow poisoning of the human body. According to the latest data, this is one of the reasons for the development of carcinogenesis processes, which result in the formation of malignant tumors.
However, every year the concentration of such chemicals in plant foods is increasingly regulated by sanitary and epidemiological institutions. Among other things, there is a whole list of highly toxic pesticides, the use of which for the treatment of cultivated plants is under the strictest ban.
To protect yourself from the consumption of plant foods containing harmful carcinogens, you can follow these recommendations:
- Before you buy vegetables or fruits, you need to ask in what conditions they were grown.
- Buy better organic products despite the increased cost.
- It's worth consumingthoroughly cleaned vegetable food without peel, as carcinogens are concentrated on the surface of vegetables and fruits.
- It is recommended to pay attention to animal products of farm origin grown on pastures.
Benzene
One of the most harmful, potentially dangerous substances for human he alth is benzene. Benzene poisoning can occur not only through inhalation, but also through the absorption of the substance through the pores of unprotected skin.
Even the impact of a substance on the body in small quantities can lead to irreversible changes in its structure. If we talk about chronic benzene poisoning, then in this case, the carcinogen most often becomes the root cause of such serious diseases as anemia and leukemia.
Benzene poisoning can occur when inhaling gasoline vapors, which is not only a fuel for machinery, but is also widely used in various areas of industrial production. It acts as a raw material basis in the manufacture of plastics, dyes, rubber, etc.
Nitrates
Every day the human body is exposed to an impressive amount of toxic nitrate compounds found in water, vegetables and fruits, and animal products. Such harmful toxic substances are dangerous, first of all, by the ability to convert into various nitro compounds, which lead to the formation of tumors of a wide variety of internalorgans.
You can protect the body from the carcinogenic effects of nitrates by reducing the consumption of canned food, as well as products with an artificially extended shelf life.
As for water, a person consumes about 20% of nitrate compounds from it. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to use spring, mineral or carbon-filtered water.
The process of converting nitrates into hazardous chemical carcinogens slows down significantly when food is stored frozen or refrigerated.
Dioxides
Dioxide carcinogens include a wide range of potentially harmful substances that are part of the group of persistent pollutants. In this case, carcinogens are hazardous technogenic substances that are practically not excreted from the body, splitting into toxins from fatty tissues.
Negative effects of dioxide carcinogens on the body:
- suppression of the protective, immune properties of the body;
- destruction and alteration of the genetic cellular structure;
- increased likelihood of developing tumors and the occurrence of mental disorders;
- decrease in male hormone levels, impotence.
Reduce the risk of accumulation and breakdown of dioxides in the body by reducing the consumption of animal fats, dairy products of dubious origin. Helps reduce the buildup of dioxides in the body A balanced, varied diet.
Heavy metals
To carcinogens that are present in the environment in the formheavy metals include lead, nickel, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, cob alt, asbestos. Photos of this kind of pollution are simply impossible not to see everywhere.
The main sources of formation of heavy metals that enter the human body are industrial enterprises, in particular, the processing of plastic and metal containers, car exhaust gases, and tobacco smoke.
Saturation of food with carcinogenic heavy metals comes from both air and water. Metal carcinogens are primarily substances that cause skin cancer, malignant tumors in the lungs, liver, and other vital organs and systems.
Aflatoxins
Biological substances, aflatoxins, belong to a separate category of carcinogens. They are sourced from certain types of fungi that grow on cereals, plant seeds and fruits with significant oil content.
Aflatoxins are the most powerful biological carcinogens that lead to the destruction of liver cells. Chronic saturation of the body with aflatoxins or their one-time intake in a concentrated amount leads to death within a few days as a result of irreversible liver damage.
Glutamates
Carcinogens are also various food additives, flavor enhancers, preservatives and dyes. It is strictly not recommended to consume foods containing monosodium glutamate. To avoid drawingirreparable harm to he alth, it is enough to avoid buying products that contain substances with the designation E.
Currently, glutamates can be present in the most unexpected products. Due to the saturation of food products with glutamates, manufacturers are not only trying to enhance their taste and make them more attractive to the consumer, but also to “addict” the population to certain types of new products. Therefore, when buying food in supermarkets, you should familiarize yourself with the composition of the products and always remain vigilant.
