10 Everyday Things That Harm Your Health, From Processed Meat To VOC In The Air
It seems like there’s nothing in this world that won’t kill you; if you want evidence, check out this video about 10 everyday things that will harm you from AllTime10s.
Love bacon? What about those turkey sandwiches you have for lunch every day? Or worse, what if you eat turkey and bacon club sandwiches? According to the video, processed meat should be eaten at your own risk. Approximately 34,000 people die each year from including it in their diets.
In 2016, the World Health Organization deemed processed meats as carcinogenic, which means they share the same category of risk as tobacco. The International Agency for Research on Cancer, a group within the WHO, explains that consumers shouldn't freak yet, as eating bacon doesn't actually hold the same danger as smoking a cigarette, reports NPR. But as the video narrator points out, 50 grams of processed meat a day can increase your risk of cancer. The average American consumes about 30 grams.
Sure, you can avoid eating processed food, but one deadly thing you can’t avoid? Breathing air. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the air in your house is filled with voluntary organic compounds (VOC), which covers a wide group of chemicals. In fact, there are more VOCs located in the home than outdoors, as it is often found in paints, varnishes, and many cleaning products. While the health impacts can can be minimal, like headaches, and eye, nose and throat irritation, the EPA warns there could be more serious implications too, notably liver and kidney damage.
Another term that’s a mouthful, perfluroinated polymers (PFCs), are thought to be toxic. Found in everyday products like floss and nonstick cookware, PFCs can increase the risk of breast, liver and prostate cancer, reports Time. The substance is associated with immune system problems and birth defects, too. An easy solution, of course, is to use all natural flosses and cookware without the compound.
For more scary common health hazards that might instill a little paranoia, if you're so inclined, check out the video.