Preserved, grilled, smoked, moldy and frequently reheated food can cause cancer, according to a Cancer Institute and Hospital/Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences study.

1. Preserved food

The lifespan of food can be increased by using preservatives to control the growth of undesirable molds, yeast and bacteria that can cause illness. Most food is processed and packaged to prevent it going bad. These foods tend to be high in fat, sugar and calories. Eating too much processed food can lead to weight gain, stomach-related cancers and other health problems.

A woman makes pickles. [Photo/IC]