Eating processed food can cause cancer – Expert warns

Prof. Ibrahim Katibi, an expert in
cardiovascular diseases, University of Ilorin
Teaching Hospital, has warned that eating
processed foods containing additives and
preservatives could cause cancer. Katibi on Tuesday in Ilorin said that cancer was
the second leading cause of death of the
cardiovascular disease both in the developed
and developing countries. According to him, processed foods such as
canned foods, and those containing chemicals
and additives to prolong their shelf lives were
carcinogenic. He cautioned that saturated fats from red
meats, such as hamburger or steak, and high-
fat dairy products were linked with several
cancers. “It also appears to increase the risk for cancers
in the breast, colon, kidney and gallbladder,” he
said. The cardiologist said that alcohol consumption
also increase the risk of cancer of the
oesophagus and stomach, especially when
combined with smoking. Katibi warned that “exposure to
electromagnetic radiation, invisible, high-
energy light waves such as sunlight and X-rays,
accounts for a small percentage of cancer
deaths”. According to him, among the 14,500 annual
cases of cervical cancer in Nigeria, over 40
million women are at risk. He said there was need for people to be aware
of the symptoms and management, adding that
the commonest cancer cases in the country
were breast, cervix and prostate. Katibi called for the creation of National Cancer
Institute to promote research and training in
cancer. He said various challenges that contributed to
cancer morbidity and mortality in the country
was everybody’s problem as government could
not tackle them alone. (NAN)