WHO: Benzopyrene is a class 1 carcinogen, may lurk in 3 types of food, try to eat less

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I. How many carcinogens are in burnt food?

For food, the right temperature can kill germs, parasites, etc., and also make the food more delicious. But if the temperature is too high and the food is burnt, this not only means that some of the nutrients in the food will be destroyed, but even these 3 carcinogens will be produced.

One is acrylamide. after cooking at temperatures above 120°C, foods containing carbohydrates and amino acids, such as potatoes and bread, are prone to a merad reaction. This makes the food taste better, but acrylamide may be produced in the process. Acrylamide is an internationally recognized Class 2A carcinogen with some neurotoxic effects.

Second, heterocyclic amines. Heterocyclic amines may be produced if protein-rich foods such as pork, lamb, and fish are cooked at high temperatures for long periods of time. Some studies have found that heterocyclic amines have a strong carcinogenic and mutagenic ability and are associated with cancers such as bowel cancer and breast cancer.

Three is benzo(a)pyrene. If the cooking food oil temperature is too high, especially when it exceeds 300 ℃, it will make the lipids in the food undergo thermal cleavage reaction, producing 1 type of carcinogenic compounds - polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which have been found to be the most carcinogenic of more than 200 PAHs so far. And the total amount of benzopyrene produced when it is baked is much greater than when it is not baked.

So it's recommended to eat as little of the burnt part of the food as possible.

2. Benzopyrene is often hidden in 3 kinds of food, so try to eat less

The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies carcinogenic factors into category 1, 2A, 2B, 3 and 4 according to the risk they pose to people. Among them, category 1 carcinogenic factors, meaning that there is sufficient evidence of carcinogenic risk to humans, benzo(a)pyrene is listed.

Benzo(a)pyrene is one of the most toxic carcinogens within PAHs and can enter the body by inhalation, ingestion, and absorption through the skin. After entering the body, most benzopyrene is converted into more than 10 metabolites through the activation of oxidative enzymes in liver and lung cells, which can cause damage to normal genes in the body. If not repaired in time, it is easy for genes to mutate and induce liver, lung, and stomach cancers.

Benzopyrene is very common in our lives and is often found in the following 3 types of foods.

Benzopyrene is produced in foods that have been fried at too high a temperature, and burnt foods contain the highest amount of benzopyrene, 10-20 times more than ordinary foods.

Benzopyrene is present within the smoke from burning charcoal when grilling, and this benzo(a)pyrene will adhere to the food with the smoke. And after the food is grilled, the sugar and fat inside will also produce benzopyrene after incomplete combustion.

The fumes from food heated to 270°C contain benzo(a)pyrene, so you should be careful not to wait until the frying pan is smoky.

3. 4 common first-class carcinogens in life, also to be kept away

In addition to benzopyrene, there are some common carcinogens in life that should be kept away as much as possible.

1. Nitrosamines

Nitrosamines are also Class 1 carcinogens, which are products generated when proteins are combined with nitrites. The presence of large amounts of nitrosamines in the body can lead to an increased risk of many cancers, including stomach, bladder, and liver cancer.

Representative food ①: Chinese salted fish

Salted fish is cured with a large amount of salt, which is converted into nitrite. And when nitrite enters the body, it combines with protein in the presence of stomach acid to produce nitrosamines.

Representative food ②: processed meat

Bacon, ham, and chicken tenders are all processed meat, and these foods have the words sodium nitrite in the ingredient list, which is also a type of nitrite. The first thing you need to do is to take a look at the list of processed meats that are available to you.

2. Aflatoxin

Aflatoxin is also recognized by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a Class 1 carcinogen, one of the strongest known carcinogens, with a toxicity equivalent to 68 times that of arsenic, requiring only 1mg to cause cancer in the body, and a one-time intake of 20mg can lead to death.

Representative food ①: moldy food

aflatoxin is most commonly found in moldy food, and most often in foods with high starch content, such as moldy peanuts, corn, rice and nuts.

Representative food②: Self-pressed oil from small workshops

The raw materials for oil extraction are easily moldy when stored improperly, and small workshops generally do not strictly select them for oil extraction, which makes it easy for the oil to be contaminated as well. The company's products and services are not available in the market.

3. Alcohol

The main component of alcohol is ethanol, which needs to be converted into acetaldehyde under the breakdown of the liver after entering the body. The company's main goal is to provide a comprehensive range of products and services to the public.

4. Tobacco

It is well known that smoking is harmful to health. Because of the thousands of compounds produced by smoking, there are more than 70 carcinogens in it, and long-term exposure to these substances can lead to a significant increase in the body's risk of lung cancer. It's not only bad for you, but also for the people around you, so try not to smoke.

In general, although there are many carcinogens hidden around us, there is no need to worry too much. After all, cancer occurs as a result of a combination of factors, so it is important to be familiar with these harmful substances and try to avoid them to reduce exposure to achieve the goal of good health.