Top 5 Cancer Causing Foods:

1. Fried potatoes

2. Hot dogs

3. Sweetened beverages

4. Doughnuts

5. Burned meat.

You know how you went huh? Burned meat? What does she mean by burned meat? It makes you want to know more about it right?

THIS IS WHY COOKING YOUR MEAT UNTIL IT IS BURNT CAN CAUSE CANCER:

Meat and meat products, such as sausages, until they are overcooked or burnt can cause a number of chemicals to be formed, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heterocyclic amines (HAs).

PAHs are also found in the environment because they are produced when fossil fuels or refuse are burnt. And they are in tobacco smoke and vehicle exhaust emissions, too. Once these chemicals have been formed, they don't break down easily, and they are present at low concentrations in most foods. So, people take in small amounts of PAHs through their normal diet.

PAHs and HAs are formed when food is cooked at high temperatures (over 150°C), for example, by grilling, barbecuing or pan-frying. HAs only form in meat, poultry and fish, but PAHs may also be formed in other foods.

Some PAHs and HAs have been shown to cause cancer in animals, and we think they do this by interacting with DNA (basic genetic material). Chemicals that act in this way are called genotoxins. Some PAHs are also known to cause cancer in humans. At the moment we don't know if HAs cause cancer in humans, but we think they might play a role.

It isn't possible to establish a safe level of consumption for genotoxins, but independent experts advise that intakes should be as low as possible.

When you're barbecuing, you're more likely to cook food properly if you cook it evenly over a steady heat.

If you cook it over flames, it could be burnt on the outside and raw in the middle. Wait until the charcoal is glowing red, with a powdery grey surface, before you start to cook.

Guest Writer: Jen Harris