KUWAIT CITY, July 3: In the latest episode of the hit podcast "Diary Of A CEO," health expert Dr. Mindy Pelz issued a stark warning about three foods that could increase the risk of cancer. Dr. Pelz advised listeners to avoid sugar, chemicals, and processed meats, all of which have been linked to the disease.

Host Steven Bartlett prompted the discussion by asking, "Are there foods that you consider to be cancer-feeding?" Dr. Pelz responded by identifying the three main culprits.

Dr. Pelz explained the dangers associated with processed meats, sugar, and chemicals. "Processed meats have chemicals in them," she said. Referencing research on the link between processed meat and cancer, she cautioned, "When you consume processed meats consistently throughout the week, you have a higher risk of leukemia."

She also criticized sugary breakfast cereals and other snacks for being loaded with chemicals and toxic oils. "The sugar cereals are packed with chemicals, toxic oils, and donuts, juice boxes, yogurts... Oh, my gosh," she exclaimed.

While sugar itself isn't directly labeled as a cause of cancer, Dr. Pelz highlighted its connection to obesity, a major cancer risk factor. "Excessive sugar intake, particularly from processed items, can lead to obesity, which increases cancer risk," she noted.

Dr. Pelz elaborated on the concept of obesogens, substances that promote obesity by turning stem cells into fat cells. "Obesogens reprogram stem cells into fat cells," she explained. "These massive influxes of chemicals are contributing to obesity, especially in the younger generation."

There is a well-established link between obesity and the risk of developing various types of cancer, including colorectal, post-menopausal breast, uterine, esophageal, kidney, and pancreatic cancers. According to Cancer Research UK, being overweight or obese is the second biggest cause of cancer in the UK, responsible for more than one in 20 cancer cases.

A spokesperson for Cancer Research UK explained, "Extra fat in the body doesn't just sit there; it sends out signals to the rest of your body, telling cells to divide more often, which can lead to cancer. These signals can affect growth hormones, sex hormones, and cause inflammation, increasing cancer risk over time."

Dr. Pelz urged people to avoid eating processed meats, added sugars, and foods with chemicals. She emphasized the importance of reading ingredient labels on food to reduce the intake of obesogens. "The first thing I do on anything packaged is go straight to the ingredients," she said. "If you don't recognize an ingredient, look it up."

Dr. Pelz shared a personal anecdote about teaching her nephew to read food labels, revealing that he found a chemical in frozen waffles linked to cancer. "What's happening is that these chemicals are allowed in our food, promoting disease," she said. "Stay away from anything with an ingredient label you don't recognize."

By following these guidelines and maintaining a healthy weight, individuals can reduce the risk of 13 different types of cancer, according to Dr. Pelz.