Beware, Burnt Food Can Cause Cancer!

Lately, various restaurants offer a barbeque menu with an all you can eat system which is made from grilled meat. This concept offers self-service to consumers to freely cook menus according to their own tastes. Some people cook meat with a low level of doneness, while some even like food with a high level of doneness (over cook) or what we call burnt. Some people think that charred food gives a better taste and feels more crunchy. But is charred food safe to eat for the body?

Cancer is a disease regardless of age, race or ethnicity. Moreover, if a person's lifestyle is not healthy, this disease attacks and kills more quickly. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer has accounted for nearly 10 million deaths worldwide in 2020. Triggers for cancer consist of many things, one of which is often eating foods that are cooked at high temperatures, resulting in charred food. Moreover, we have encountered many restaurants that serve grilled meat menus in all major cities in Indonesia.

In general, food cooked at high temperatures can produce certain molecules called acrylamide. The content is a chemical that is carcinogenic. When these substances enter the body, acrylamide can turn into glycidamide which can damage DNA in the body. Uncontrolled cell growth due to DNA damage in the body can trigger cancer. Therefore, we are advised not to eat charred food because it contains carcinogens that are harmful to our health.

However, it is not impossible that the risk of cancer cannot be prevented. You can also reduce the risk of cancer by adopting a healthy lifestyle, consuming food, fruits, vegetables, low-fat milk and low-fat meat.

Consult about consuming healthy food for your body with a clinical nutrition specialist at Hermina Hospital Makassar

Greetings healthy