18 Foods Research Links to Increased Cancer Risk

9. Salt-Cured and pickled foods

Studies have found that eating salty foods, including salt-cured meats like bacon, salami, and prosciutto, and pickled foods, is also associated with gastric cancers. Researchers believe this association may occur for a number of reasons. High salt concentrations may directly damage the gastric lining and increase the chances of mutations, and many of these foods are also high in nitrates and nitrites. High salt intake can also increase the virulence of a bacteria called H. pylori, a bacteria in the GI system that is one of the main predisposing factors for gastric cancer.