Seemingly healthy food has a dangerous connection to chronic illnesses

Food Flash explores the wild world of food news, from the health benefits of red wine to why dark chocolate is actually good for you.

The right food can be medicine, but a poor diet can increase your risk of chronic and life-threatening illnesses like diabetes, heart disease and certain types of cancer.

According to the Center for Disease Control, more than 100 million Americans live with diabetes — a serious condition that causes higher than normal blood sugar levels.

Sometimes it’s hereditary, but other times it’s acquired. You can prevent its onset by avoiding white flour products, fried foods, trans fats and red meats.

Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S., and often a person’s diet is to blame.

Avoid foods that are high in low-density lipoprotein, or LDL. These include pastries, butter, meat fat, beef, chicken skin and full-fat dairy products.

One in three people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society. Luckily, advances in science have made it easier to identify carcinogens in foods.

Limit your consumption of alcohol, processed and charred meats and hydrogenated oils. Sugar’s role in cancer is hotly debated, but you should do your best to consume the sweet stuff in moderation regardless.

Make healthy choices with the food you eat and you’ll increase your chances of living to a ripe, old age.

If you enjoyed this story, you might also like reading about how eating sushi actually has more health risks than benefits.

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