Cancer Dietician Reveals The One Type of Take-Out Food She’d Never Eat

Diet is key when it comes to good health and disease prevention. People may feel inspired to load up on fresh produce and whole grains while grocery shopping. But eating well can become more difficult when it comes to dining out or picking up take-out. However, it’s still possible to stick to a cancer prevention menu. Recently, a cancer dietician revealed ten foods she should never eat.

Cancer Dietician: 10 Foods She’d Never Eat

Nichole Andrews, an oncology dietician, gives tips on how to build this kind of diet. In one TikTok video, she explains why she avoids certain restaurants and take-out foods.

Alcohol 

“All types of alcohol including red wine are going to increase your risk of six different cancers,” she says. This is because the body doesn’t digest alcohol as it would other beverages. Instead, it breaks it down into a chemical that damages DNA. Damaged DNA could cause cells to grow and become cancerous.

“So many people are encouraging, I see it all the time, to have alcohol to destress, to cope with emotion, to have fun, but really any consumption of alcohol, any, it’s just immediately started to increase your risk of cancer. So I don’t drink alcohol, take it out.”

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Pepperoni pizza

“I do not order a pepperoni pizza.” Andrews said. In fact, she skips processed meats in general. Processed meat, such as salami and hot dogs, underwent a treatment to make it last longer or taste better, such as curing or smoking. While other foods may be enjoyed in moderation, she recommends avoiding alcohol and processed meat entirely since small amounts can increase the risk of cancer.

“So I do not have pepperoni pizza. What I like to put on my pizza, I’ll have cheese or I’ll do vegetarian, I’ll do chicken or I’ll even get raw sausage from a store, cook that, and then I’ll make a homemade pizza and put that on top of that. So, mostly chicken, mostly veggie, no pepperoni.”

Sugary drinks

Obesity increases the risk of several types of cancer including colorectal, breast, and pancreatic cancer. For that reason, Andrews encourages her viewers to monitor their calorie intake and ensure they are coming from healthy sources. “I don’t want all of my calories coming from… beverages such as sodas,” she says. For people who enjoy the occasional sweet drink while ordering take-out, she recommends mini cans over the regular size to help with portion control. She adds that people should limit large sugary coffees by purchasing smaller sizes or reducing the sugar content in them. 

Hot dogs

“I don’t do hot dogs in the summer…” she continued. “Instead I’ll use raw sausages that… have no preservatives… and I’ll grill that.” But she warns that grilling can come with its own cancer risk. Namely, when the flames interact with meat, it creates “carcinogen-byproducts”. Therefore, she suggests pan-frying the meats before putting them on the grill, or lowering the flames so they don’t directly touch the food.

Red meat

“So red meat is not going to increase risk of cancer at consumption like alcohol and processed meats do, however, red meats will increase risk of colorectal cancer after 18 ounces a week,” she said. While processed meat involves deli meat and the like, red meat includes fresh beef, lamb, pork, veal, etc.

“So what I do is I usually keep to about just one serving of red meat a week or I just don’t have any at all. And so when I’m going out to eat or cooking at home, I’ll build my meals around like chicken, turkey, fish, seafood, or even different types of plant proteins like soy and things like that. So I don’t order a lot of red meat. You can… remember 18 ounces a week is okay. But beyond that, then you’re increasing risk of colorectal cancer.”

Whole grains

“I don’t choose any kind of white grains,” Andrews says. Instead, she opts for whole grains to reduce the risk of colon and breast cancer. They are full of nutrients and fiber, which also improves digestion. She clarifies that white bread does not increase the risk of cancer, but whole grains is the healthier choice overall. So while ordering take-out burgers, sandwiches, and bagels, go for the whole wheat option.

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Plant-based milk

She opts for dairy milk over soy, almond, etc., because dairy has a higher protein content. However, this does not apply to people who have allergies and avoid dairy for their health. She adds that plant-based milks are safe and don’t increase the risk of cancer so people who enjoy them should continue to do so. “I’m just saying, for me, I don’t choose those milk alternatives because of the low protein content and milk is more nutrient-dense. Cow’s milk also because of the main amazing calcium that reduces risk of colorectal cancer.” 

Additionally, for those who choose to avoid dairy, be reassured that the American Cancer Society doesn’t have specific guidelines for dairy consumption when it comes to cancer prevention because of conflicting evidence that dietary calcium/dairy products could lower the risk of colorectal cancer but too much may increase the risk of prostate cancer. Because of contradicting studies such as these, speak to your doctor or dietician about a cancer-prevention diet that best suits your body’s needs.

You can watch the entirety of Nichole Andrews’s video on TikTok

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