Oncologist Warns: Check Food Labels for Sodium Nitrates to Lower Cancer Risk

Key Points:

• Dr. Ted A. James, an oncologist, advises consumers to look beyond front-label marketing claims and carefully check food ingredient lists and Nutrition Facts labels to assess cancer risk, particularly focusing on sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite preservatives.
• Sodium nitrate and nitrite, commonly found in processed meats like bacon, ham, hot dogs, and deli meats, can form nitrosamines during cooking or digestion, compounds that may damage DNA and increase cancer risk over time.
• While avoiding processed meats entirely is recommended, Dr. James emphasizes making informed choices rather than striving for perfection, noting that "nitrate-free" or "uncured" labels may still involve nitrates from natural sources like celery powder.
• To lower cancer risk, Dr. James suggests choosing protein sources such as beans, lentils, fresh fish, chicken, turkey, nuts, seeds, and tofu, promoting a plant-forward diet and reducing reliance on processed meats.
• Diet is only one factor influencing cancer risk, alongside genetics, physical activity, body weight, smoking, and alcohol consumption, so a holistic approach to lifestyle is important for cancer prevention.