Around 70% of the Earth is covered with water and our human body is not far behind. Up to 60% of the human adult body is water. Water is the elixir of life which we are made up of andsomething that surrounds us too.

The expert team of doctors at Capitol Hospital will discuss some beverages and their effect on the risk of cancer.

We should always keep our body hydrated by drinking lots of water. We consume water not only by drinking water but also by having other beverages like tea, coffee, carbonated drinks etc.

Following are the few beverages which may increase your risk of cancer.

• ALCOHOL

Alcohol consumption is on the rise in our region these days, especially among the younger generation. People in adolescence even succumb to peer pressureand commence drinking. Drinking alcohol causes several types of cancer. Alcohol affects each organ differently as far as cancer is concerned. It can increase the risk of mouth, esophageal, colorectal, liver, breast cancers in thehuman body.

For women, alcohol consumption makes estrogen level very high which makes them a strong contender for breast cancer.

Heavy alcohol consumption can damage the liver. Alcohol can cause many other problems for your body too like inflammation in your lever, affects the central nervous system of your body and many other circulatory problems also.

Best to limit the use of alcohol for a better life.

• CARBONATED BEVERAGES/ SOFT DRINKS

Carbonated beverages are related to esophageal cancer according to a new research. More soft drinks can increase your body’s gastric pressure which in turn results in an increase in reflux. This increase in reflux is a major risk determinant of esophageal cancer.

Also, carbonated beverages are responsible for heavyweight gain which can lead to obesity and further problems. It is not a very probable cause of cancer but we should be careful as to not increase the acid reflux in our esophagus.

We eat all kinds of junk food like pizzas and burgers which are not at all good for health and to top that we consume soft drinks with it, which is dangerous on so many levels for our human body. Not to mention the effect it has on our weight gain.

The research for this is still going on. But the association between the increased consumption of such beverages and increase in acid reflux is a definite and should be considered.

• PROCESSED JUICES AND UNNATURAL HEALTH DRINKS

Unnatural health drinks have been linked to Benzene. Benzene is a compound which is a proven carcinogen and linked with cancers like Leukemia. Sodium Benzoate is an ingredient which is actively used in these products.

Processed Juices too contain preservatives which are very detrimental to your health. When the fruit juice has been packaged and processed it loses most of its nutritional value. The amount of sugar which is added to these juices is also not good for our health.

• BOTTLED WATER

Plastic water bottles can release toxins into the water and that can result in an increased risk of cancer. We should always see that which kind of plastic we are using to have water. Biphenol-A or BPA is the compound which has been linked to bottles used for drinking water for a long time. BPA can affect the changes in the body’s hormone which can result in the increased risk of cancer.

We take bottled water once from the market and then use it in our homes to store water without knowing whether that plastic bottle can be reused or not. We should always check which type of plastic the bottle is made up of, before reusing it.

We keep these bottles of water even in cars which are on standby and the heat from the surroundings can affect the bottle and the water in it. The rays which fall from the sun through the car windows to the bottled water have very adverse effects.

Green Tea contains many antioxidants properties and researchers have found that it can prevent the growth of cancer cells from one part of thebody to another. But we cannot use it to cure cancer.

Lifestyle changes can really affect our risk of cancer and we should inculcate these habits in our routine for a better future.

Stay healthy and be fit