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I'm a doctor and these are the foods and habits I ALWAYS avoid to prevent cancer and stay at peak health
A renowned doctor has revealed the common things that she would never be caught doing - and it's bad news for anyone who loves bacon.
Nicole Van Groningen, an LA-based medical professional, listed six things she avoids after years in the field - many of which can help reduce her risk of serious illness or cancer.
They included never eating processed meats, waking up early to exercise, foregoing sunscreen and taking untested supplements.
1. Eating processed meats including bacon
Dr Van Groningen said the first suggestion may sound 'brutal', but that the World Health Organisation have classified processed meats, including bacon, as carcinogens - meaning they are known to cause cancer in humans.
The doctor, who has been a vegetarian since she was 13, avoids all meat but insisted that if she was going to eat it she would never reach for the processed kind.
2. Sacrificing sleep for exercise
While rising before the crack of dawn might sound like a healthy habit, the American medical professional insists that this isn't always the case.
The doctor insisted the bacon and all processed meats are carcinogens that need to be avoided, while she has been a vegetarian since the age of 13, if she were to eat meat she would steer clear of the processed kind
'Yes, we love exercise, it has so many different health benefits - but if you're waking up early and cutting your sleep short to exercise - it's not going to have a net health benefit,' the expert explained.
'Sleep is the primary wellness habit. End of story. Period,' the doctor added.
This echoes the advice of world-leading sleep specialist Dr Matthew Walker who has proven that getting enough sleep is the cornerstone to health and longevity.
The medical professional is not a fan of prescribing antibiotics for any kind of less serious infection, she explains that while they can be 'miracle drugs' they can also damage the gut microbiome
3. Being in the sun without sunscreen
The American doctor is sure to apply sunscreen every day to her face, chest and hands - and is careful to never go into the sun without it.
'I will not do it,' Dr Van Groningen said of skipping sunscreen. 'We know that it helps prevent multiple types of skin cancer and also helps prevent premature aging.'
For those concerned about getting enough Vitamin D, the medical professional said that studies suggest that people who wear sunscreen every day do not struggle with Vitamin D deficiency more than people who don't.
4. Judging other people for their health status
The American doctor said it's important to never judge others for their 'health status' or health related behaviours - as our health isn't always under our control.
'I know so many of us want to believe that we have complete free will over our choices, and therefore complete control over our health. That would be nice - but that is a myth,' Dr Van Groningen said.
Stressing that health can sometimes be out of our hands, she pointed out that she sees patients with 'catastrophic diseases' who have often done the right things when it comes to their health.
5. Casually taking antibiotics
'I avoid antibiotics unless there is a clear and convincing concern for bacterial infections,' the doctor said.
While she insisted that they are 'miracle drugs' when needed, she believes that doctors are generally 'too generous' in prescribing them for infection.
'Antibiotics are not harmless, they impact the gut microbiome,' she added.
6. Taking supplements that aren't third party tested
Dr Van Groningen cited a recent study that showed that nearly 40 per cent of 57 tested supplements didn't contain 'detectable levels' of the advertised ingredient - and some even contained banned substances.
While it's not common, when she does treat patients with acute liver injury from indiscriminate and excessive supplement use - the harm can be 'dramatic'.
Most people loved the doctors advice, with many saying it was 'incredible' - but not everyone was convinced that processed meats were bad for your health.
'My grandpa lived to be 97 and ate processed meat every day, mostly bologna or salami,' one man said.
One man held fast to his bacon fix for very different reasons: 'With all the stressful things going on in the world, I will not give up my emotional support bacon.'