https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 28 Apr 2026 03:13:24 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/char-on-food-causes-cancer#post-366978 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 21:51:56 +0000 Meridian 366978@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I rarely eat anything charred (1x a month, if even) mainly because I don't like the burnt taste, but I don't go out of my way to avoid it. I would imagine that you would have to eat a lot of burnt stuff for it to really cause cancer?? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/char-on-food-causes-cancer#post-366921 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 20:55:43 +0000 blackbird 366921@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Everything causes cancer nowadays. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/char-on-food-causes-cancer#post-366617 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 16:02:56 +0000 Maysprout 366617@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DigAPony: Theoretically there's carcinogens in most foods but the studies looking at the actual effects of burnt food have not yielded much. Most studies have found no link to human cancers, but this one danish study did find a link to ovarian cancer. But the same chemicals that they're worried about are also found in coffee because of the roasting process but coffee seems to have no effect or decrease the risk. So I think it's more theoretical hype then real risk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/char-on-food-causes-cancer#post-366574 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 15:39:01 +0000 Mrs. Bee 366574@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i love char but don't give it to the kids. i know it's a carcinogen but i still eat it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/char-on-food-causes-cancer#post-366569 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 15:37:15 +0000 DigAPony 366569@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Maysprout: I'm not sure what study you're referring to.</p> <p>I pulled out my old nutrition textbook, which says: "Smoke generated from burning wood or charcoal, like smoke from burning tobacco, contains a multitude of chemical substances, some of which initiate cancer. Some carcinogens from smoke settle on food during cooking; others form when meat fats or added oils land on the coals and then vaporize, creating carcinogens that rise and stick to the food. Just the process of browning foods triggers chemical changes among the sugars and amino acids of foods such as steak that are typically seared in cooking. These changes often improve the flavor, aroma, and appearance of foods, but they may also create carcinogens." (415, Nutrition: Concepts &amp; Controversies, 9th ed., by Sizer &amp; Whitney.)</p> <p>The study the text cites to support this information is: "B.C. Pence and coauthors, Feeding of a well-cooked beef diet containing a high heterocyclic amine content enhances colon and stomach carcinogenesis in 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-treated rats, Nutrition and Caner 30 (1998): 220-226."</p> <p>The text recommends lining grills with foil, or wrapping food in foil before grilling, to minimize the formation of carcinogenic compounds. I think the bottom line is that it's nearly impossible to completely avoid anything that may cause cancer, so the everything in moderation rule is a good one to follow. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/char-on-food-causes-cancer#post-366541 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 15:19:53 +0000 MrsBrewer 366541@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@boiledpnut: Yea I totally agree! I mean heck I'm probably giving myself more of a risk talking on my cell phone ;-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/char-on-food-causes-cancer#post-366538 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 15:18:20 +0000 boiledpnut 366538@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep, I actually learned this in biochemistry. But unless that's all you eat, I think you'll be ok. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/char-on-food-causes-cancer#post-366536 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 15:16:53 +0000 BoogieBea 366536@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My MIL tells us that all the time too. I don't eat much over charred food anyway but we do like our barbecued food. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/char-on-food-causes-cancer#post-366535 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 15:16:35 +0000 erwoo 366535@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah, it is scary to consume burnt food, especially when you have family members who have cancer. I'd say just eat all things in moderation. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/char-on-food-causes-cancer#post-366531 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 15:13:56 +0000 tysonja 366531@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My mom used to tell me this all the time growing up! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/char-on-food-causes-cancer#post-366525 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 15:10:47 +0000 MrsBrewer 366525@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I totally feel completely out of loop on this. I've never even heard of this before! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/char-on-food-causes-cancer#post-366519 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 15:07:38 +0000 Freckles 366519@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My mom had cancer, and she now goes out of her way to take off any of the charred bits from her food. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/char-on-food-causes-cancer#post-366470 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 14:39:23 +0000 Maysprout 366470@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DigAPony: Its based on a danish study that tried to assess womens diets based on self reporting and they considered stuff like potato chips and french fries to be charred food. Its quite far from scientific fact. There'd have to be more substantial evidence for me to take it seriously, though I agree that eating lots of potato chips and french fries prob have negative health effects. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/char-on-food-causes-cancer#post-366459 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 14:31:48 +0000 LazyLightning 366459@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep it's true. I still eat charred meat (like hotdogs or some chicken with burnt skin) occasionally but I don't go out of my way to eat a lot of it. I figure, everything gives you cancer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/char-on-food-causes-cancer#post-366451 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 14:27:28 +0000 DigAPony 366451@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, I learned about this in a nutrition class in college. It's not for anyone to "buy" or not--it's a scientific fact. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/char-on-food-causes-cancer#post-366441 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 14:18:05 +0000 Maysprout 366441@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't buy it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/char-on-food-causes-cancer#post-366403 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 13:48:26 +0000 SugarplumsMom 366403@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I heard about it when I was in Korea. The sweet old aunties would scrape off my BBQ for me :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/char-on-food-causes-cancer#post-366367 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 13:29:06 +0000 Andrea 366367@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah I've heard that so I never eat food if it is charred. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/char-on-food-causes-cancer#post-366360 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 13:26:29 +0000 heffalump 366360@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've heard that. My mom always burnt my food so I've learned to love it. But I do avoid giving LO burnt food..... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/char-on-food-causes-cancer#post-366032 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 11:03:12 +0000 Alivoo01 366032@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love a litle char on my toasts and stuff! When I was younger and had a tummy ache, my parents made sure my toast was a little charred so that it would absorb the "gas" in my belly. Plus, I don't eat char all the time so I think here and there in moderation (like everything else) is okay! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/char-on-food-causes-cancer#post-366017 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 10:58:09 +0000 autumnlove 366017@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, I have heard this and I try to avoid food that is too charred because of the carcinogens! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/char-on-food-causes-cancer#post-366015 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 10:57:32 +0000 Honeybee 366015@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsBrewer: Right. According to Wikipedia, carcinogen is a general term for cancer-causing substances. The carcinogens found in charred foods are similar to those found in tobacco (cigarette smoke). Interesting...</p> <p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcinogen" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcinogen</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/char-on-food-causes-cancer#post-366011 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 10:55:12 +0000 MrsBrewer 366011@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Honeybee: wow I didn't know that! So basically anything that has been "burned" or roasted (coffee) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/char-on-food-causes-cancer#post-366006 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 10:51:54 +0000 Honeybee 366006@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's carcinogens that are in foods that have been charred (also in coffee, baked goods, etc...) that are supposed to be dangerous. I know in CA, coffee shops, bakeries, etc... actually have warning signs up that say foods served in those restaurants may contain carcinogens and could potentially cause cancer. It doesn't change my consumption habits, though. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/char-on-food-causes-cancer#post-365997 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 10:48:17 +0000 MrsBrewer 365997@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So I'm not one to over react when I hear things, but come on?!</p> <p>I was told last night that eating food that was like grilled and has char marks on it, the charred part increases your risk of cancer.</p> <p>I'm sorry but there might be some back up information for it, but I personally will not go out of my way to avoid those spots, heck those are my favorite!!</p> <p>Have you heard of this before? Do you avoid eating it? </p>