Most forms of skin cancer result from overexposure to ultraviolet sun rays, with the exception of Kaposi's sarcoma, which is caused by a herpes virus and affects people with HIV and AIDS. If caught early enough, most skin cancer is treatable. Skin cancer starts with an unusually shaped lesion on your skin that changes shape and size over time. Certain foods can help your body fight off skin cancer and other foods may exacerbate your risk factors.
Grilled Meat
Grilled and fried meat contain free radicals that disrupt healthy cell production. Grilled and fried meats with black, charbroiled skin you get on chicken, pork and beef can create carcinogens that may turn into cancerous cells, according to HelpGuide.org.
White Bread
There are very few healthy ingredients in white bread, but the primary missing piece is fiber. Fiber is important for flushing your body of harmful toxins that can lead to cancer.
Pastries
Pastries fill you up with sugar that leads to obesity and all the related health issues, such as type 2 diabetes. Refined sugar in your system plays havoc with your body's ability to fight off free radicals. It raises your blood-sugar levels, making your cells more susceptible to harmful free radicals in sunlight.
White Rice
White rice is another food that may be good for fighting diarrhea but can clog up your digestive system just when you need to flush it of harmful cancer-causing free radicals. White rice does not move easily through your digestive system where many cancer-causing compounds are removed.
Hot Dogs
Diets high in saturated fat are closely related to higher rates of cancer. Hot dogs, processed deli meats, salami and sausage are high in saturated fats and should be avoided to reduce your risk of developing skin cancer.
Margarine
Margarine, vegetable oil and other products made with trans fats can increase your risk of developing cancer cells. Trans fats, also called "hydrogenated oils," contain free radicals and lead to obesity, another risk factor for cancer.
Whole Milk
Whole milk, while high in protein and calcium usually good for your skin, contains saturated fats that may reduce the benefits you derive from drinking it. Instead, use skim or low-fat milk to get the same nutrients without the added fat that can lead to a greater risk of cancer.
Bacon
In addition to being made from pigs that carry a slew of toxins from their diets, according to Dr. Josh Axe, bacon is loaded with carcinogens used to preserve the meat. Sausage and beef jerky also are made using cancer-causing carcinogens.
Grilled Salmon
Salmon is a food often recommended as a healthy alternative to meat because of its high omega-3 fatty acid content. Baked or steamed salmon is a healthy choice, but when it's grilled with skin, this creates the same carcinogens you find on your other barbecued meats that can lead to cancer.
Moldy Peanuts
While you may not purposely eat peanuts that have mold on them, you may not realize the nuts have grown a little moldy if you don't keep them refrigerated. Mold is made of aflatoxin, which is a dangerous carcinogen that can lead to cancer.
