Cancer is a scary thing. But, as with anything health-related, it's always a good idea to stay as informed as possible. If you know which habits could lead to cancer, you can avoid them and up your chances of living a long and healthy life. Of course, we are not saying that there is any one thing that causes cancer or one habit that could lead to cancer, but a healthy lifestyle can certainly decrease your chances of getting cancer. So keep these everyday products off-limits.

1. Processed Meat

Eating more processed meat increases your risk of dying from cancer and cardiovascular disease. Eating less than 20gm of processed meat per day can prolong your life.

2. Popcorn Bags

Popcorn bags are lined with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which is the same toxin you find in Teflon. This chemical is known to cause infertility and cancer after it is heated. 10 Facts About Cancer You Need to Know by World Health Organization (WHO).

3. Farmed Salmon

Several studies have shown that salmon is a high-risk cancer food. It is often contaminated with carcinogenic chemicals, flame retardants, PCBs, pesticides, and antibiotics.

4. Potato Chips

Potato chips are fried in high temperatures to make them crispy. But all the frying may cause acrylamide to form, which is a known carcinogen found in cigarettes.

5. Alcohol

WHO's research on cancer found that excessive alcohol use can be a cause of mouth, esophagus, liver, colon, rectum and female breast cancers. Lung Cancer Causes: 5 Sneaky Risk Factors That Have Nothing to Do with Smoking.

6. Ultraviolet Radiation

Most skin cancers are a direct result of exposure to UV rays in sunlight. Tanning beds also increases the risk of skin cancer including melanoma and squamous and basal cell skin cancers.

7. Diesel Engine Exhaust

Diesel engine exhaust can cause changes in the cell's DNA which can potentially cause cancer. Diesel exhaust is also linked with other heart and lung diseases.

8. Parabens

Parabens are preservatives in cosmetics that have oestrogen-like properties. Oestrogen mimickers cause breast tumour cells to grow. Breast Cancer Can be Caused Due to Lifestyle Habits.

And finally, we cannot go without mentioning that "sitting is the new smoking". Studies suggest that there is a 65 percent greater risk of multiple myeloma in women who sit six-plus hours a day. So make sure that you take one to two minutes break from sitting each hour.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 15, 2019 11:49 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).