Can eating charred barbecue food raise cancer risk?
Q My husband loves to cook food on the barbecue but it’s often very charred. He says it is to make sure it’s cooked through but I’ve heard that eating burnt food can increase the risk of cancer. Is this true?
A There have been reports linking acrylamide – a chemical found in burnt starchy foods like toast and charred root vegetables such as potatoes – with an increased risk of cancer, but there isn’t enough evidence to back this up.
In fact, good quality studies have not shown that acrylamide from food causes cancer in humans.
However, cooking foods - especially red meat and processed meat such as sausages - over high heat, especially with an open flame, can create chemicals that may increase the risk of developing some cancers, including colorectal cancer.
This doesn’t have to mean you should avoid barbecuing food completely though. You can reduce the potential risk by using smaller cuts, which need less exposure to high cooking temperatures.
Pre-cook larger cuts in the oven so they only need a short time on the barbecue. Choosing leaner cuts and avoiding fatty foods can help too as fat increases flames and smoke, which can contain carcinogens.
Some studies have also suggested marinating food for at least 30 minutes before cooking, especially if the marinade contains an acid, like lemon juice or vinegar, may create a barrier that decreases the level of harmful chemicals that develop.
The overall quality of your diet is far more relevant to your cancer risk than the way food is cooked.
If you want to keep your risk low, avoid processed meat, which includes meats that have been smoked, like bacon and ham. Eat plenty of foods high in fibre, such as wholemeal cereals and bread, brown rice and pasta, and include plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Q Three years ago I got radiotherapy treatment for prostate cancer which was completed successfully. Now I get regular PSA checks which are OK. I now have problems maintaining a strong erection, which is frustrating. Due to other health issues, I am taking several medications such as apixaban, bisoprolol, isosorbide mononitrate and tamsulosin. Is it wise to consider aids such as Viagra or Eroxon?
A Although erectile dysfunction is sometimes due to a psychological problem, about 80 per cent of cases are due to a physical cause such as low testosterone levels or diabetes. The most common cause in men over 40 is reduced blood flow to the penis. This can be due to narrowed blood vessels and can also be a side effect of medications, including beta blockers like the bisoprolol you are taking.
The radiotherapy to your prostate may also have damaged the nerves to the penis. Drugs such as sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra) work by improving the blood flow to the penis, but unfortunately, they may not be suitable for men who are taking nitrate medications such as isosorbide mononitrate.
Eroxon is a gel that is applied to the head of the penis, where it is thought to cause a temporary increase in blood flow, and this may be suitable for you to use.
Alternatively, there are other treatments that may be more effective, including alprostadil, a drug similar to sildenafil, which can be applied as a cream to the head of the penis and surrounding skin, or as a tiny pessary into the urethra (the pipe inside the penis) or an injection into the base of the penis.
These are usually suitable for men who cannot take oral treatments. Pump devices are also available.
I would encourage you to talk to your doctor, who can give you more detailed advice and refer you to a specialist. Please do not feel embarrassed about this - erectile dysfunction is a very common problem affecting at least 50 per cent of men between the ages of 40 and 70, and 70 per cent of men over 70. It is something GPs deal with every day.
Q I’m 34 and, over the past few weeks, I have developed a really itchy bumpy rash, especially on my back and chest. It only seems to happen when I am hot and sweaty, especially after I’ve been out on my bike. It lasts about 30 minutes to an hour and then calms down. I thought it was some type of heat rash, but it also happened after eating a curry. Is there anything I can do about it? I’ve been reluctant to take antihistamines as it doesn’t last very long.
A The most common type of heat rash looks like tiny red bumpy spots that may look like small blisters. It tends to occur where there is friction with clothes, for example around the waist, or in women under the bra band.
It’s caused by blockage of sweat ducts deep in the skin and can last several days and causes a prickly sensation – hence its common name, prickly heat.
The rash you describe sounds different to this and I wonder if what you have is a form of urticaria, or hives. This is caused by release of the chemical histamine in the skin, triggered by sweating. It tends to occur within a few minutes of sweating, which may be caused by exercise, heat, or in some people, eating spicy food. The rash consists of tiny, raised wheals on the skin, each 2 to 3 mm across, but these may join together to form larger wheals.
This form of urticaria tends to start in early adult life and tends to improve after a few years and become much less severe.
Having a cool shower as soon as the rash develops may help, along with applying a cream containing 1% menthol (available from chemists), which cools the skin. Taking an antihistamine tablet, such as cetirizine, loratadine or fexofenadine before you exercise or eat spicy food may help to limit or even stop the rash developing. This is worth a try if the rash is very itchy or troublesome.