In recent years, the incidence of gastric cancer has repeatedly broken records, and in 2014, it ranked fourth in the world in terms of cancer incidence, and with the improvement of people’s living standards and changes in dietary habits, the incidence of gastric cancer in developing countries has been rising. Statistics show that the incidence rate and mortality rate of gastric cancer in China account for 42.6% and 45.0% of the world total respectively, ranking first in the world.
The causes of gastric cancer, besides the infection of Helicobacter pylori, are closely related to the environmental factors and dietary habits, and the primary prevention of gastric cancer should start from daily diet and improving living habits.
A. Stay away from pickles
Pickles contain a large amount of nitrite and secondary amines, which can synthesize nitrosamines under the action of suitable acidity or bacteria in the stomach, and these compounds are strong carcinogenic substances. It is extremely important to stay away from pickles and eat more fresh food to prevent stomach cancer.
Avoid smoked and fried foods
Smoked food contains a lot of carcinogenic substances, such as 3-4 benzo(a)pyrene and cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Fried, baked, burnt food and reused high temperature cooking oil also contain such carcinogenic substances, so frequent consumption of smoked and fried food is a kind of destruction to our already fragile stomach.
Reject moldy food
In our daily life, we often encounter moldy food, and the elderly at home, because of frugality, often remove the moldy part of food, especially fruit, and eat the remaining part, which avoids “waste”, but causes great harm to our stomach.
Research shows that mold is caused by contaminated mold, some of the mold is a toxic fungus, is a very strong carcinogenic substances, while some food in the role of toxic fungi produce a large number of nitrites and secondary amines, into the body under certain conditions, the stomach can synthesize nitrosamines and carcinogenic.
Quit smoking and alcohol
Smoking is closely related to many cancers and plays a role in the formation of gastric cancer. Smoke contains many carcinogenic or carcinogenic substances such as benzo(a)pyrene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and dibenzocarbazole, which is one of the causes of esophageal cancer and stomach cancer. Although alcohol itself is not a carcinogenic substance, strong alcohol will stimulate the gastric mucosa, damage the mucosal tissue and promote the absorption of carcinogenic substances.
If you drink alcohol and smoke at the same time, because alcohol can enhance the permeability of cell membrane, it can strengthen the absorption of carcinogenic substances in smoke, which will be even more harmful.
Five, improve eating habits and eating emotions
Overeating, eating too fast and too hot, and irregular diet can cause damaging stimulation to the stomach, which is a prerequisite for the occurrence of stomach cancer. Meanwhile, high salt intake and sulking during meals are also closely related to gastric cancer.
Salt itself is not carcinogenic, but high salt intake can damage the gastric mucosal barrier, increase susceptibility to carcinogenic substances and enhance the risk of gastric cancer.
According to a survey, the risk of stomach cancer is 1.3 times higher than normal for those who often have irregular meals, 1.5 times higher for those who eat when they are angry, and 4.22 times higher for those whose food is too hot.
Eat more fresh vegetables and fruits
Eat more food containing vitamin A, B and E, and strengthen protein intake appropriately to protect gastric mucosa. Vitamins C, E and β-carotene can block the synthesis of strong carcinogens, inhibit their activation, promote their metabolism and stimulate the anti-tumor immune system in the body, which has anti-cancer effects.
Seven, protect the hygiene of drinking water
Protecting drinking water hygiene is an effective prevention not only for stomach cancer but also for the development of any cancer. Because contaminated water contains many kinds of cancer-causing metal ions, long-term drinking will cause incalculable damage to stomach and other organs, and is very likely to induce cancer development. Therefore, you must use regular tap water and try to use well water in rural areas.
Prevent precancerous lesions of related diseases
Atrophic gastritis is closely related to gastric cancer, which is a typical precancerous disease; gastric ulcer malignant gastric cancer accounts for 5-10%; gastric polyadenomatous polyp is more common than single polyp, and polyp diameter over 2cm shows a tendency of malignant transformation; pernicious anemia has a certain relationship with gastric cancer. Therefore, people who suffer from atrophic gastritis, gastric ulcer, gastric polyadenomatous polyp and pernicious anemia must go to hospital frequently for examination and treatment to eliminate precancerous lesions and prevent the occurrence of gastric cancer.