I’m a cancer dietitian – here’s the ‘healthy’ trend I would never follow because of links to the disease

A cancer dietitian has revealed the supposedly healthy habit that could potentially increase your risk of contracting the disease.

Nichole Andrews, a registered dietitian and nutritionist specializing in oncology, said she has long avoided supplements such as vitamin and mineral pills to reduce her cancer risk.

In a video, viewed more than 1 million times on TikTok, she says: ‘I don’t take supplements unless my doctor recommends it, I get all my nutrients from food.

“Don’t look for supplements to reduce your cancer risk, because in fact, high doses of supplements can increase your cancer risk.”

Ms Andrews, 38, who lives in Washington in the US and goes by the alias ‘The Oncology Dietician’ on social media, did not mention specific supplements or the cancers they are linked to in the short clip.

However, the NHS warns that supplements containing beta-carotene may increase the risk of lung cancer in some people, such as smokers and those exposed to asbestos.

Beta-carotene is a natural pigment found in yellow and orange fruits and vegetables, such as carrots and sweet potatoes.

The body can convert beta-carotene into vitamin A, which is good for our immune system, vision and keeping the skin healthy.

However, a study of nearly 30,000 smokers found that those who took beta-carotene supplements had an almost one-fifth higher risk of cancer than those who did not.

A study of people exposed to asbestos also found that they had a 28 percent higher risk of cancer if they took the supplements.

Crucially, studies have only observed this increased risk in people who took beta-carotene supplements – and not in those who consumed it naturally through a healthy diet.

Exactly why beta-carotene supplements increase the risk of cancer is unknown.

However, theories suggest that in high concentrations it can damage cells or worsen the damage caused by cancer-causing chemicals in substances like tobacco.

Beta-carotene isn’t the only type of supplement linked to an increased risk of cancer.

A US analysis of another supplement, vitamin E, found that its use led to a 17 percent higher risk of prostate cancer in men.

Vitamin E occurs naturally in nuts and seeds and helps keep the skin, eyes and immune system healthy.

Selenium supplements have been linked to a 130 percent increased risk of death from prostate cancer, although this was a small study of men taking three times the recommended daily dose.

Selenium is a mineral found naturally in fish, meat, eggs and Brazil nuts that helps the immune system function properly and promote reproductive health.

Some studies have also shown a possible link between iron supplements and an increased risk of colon cancer due to the mineral causing oxidative damage to cells.

According to NHS guidelines, men should consume around 8.7mg of iron per day, while women aged 19 to 49 recommend 14.8mg.

For women over 50, the health care system recommends 8.7 mg, as they are likely to no longer have periods.

Iron tablets sold over the counter in pharmacies for as little as £2.50 often contain around 14 mg per tablet.

Similar relationships with supplements and cancer risk have been found in some studies of the risks of folic acid and folic acid, as well as vitamin B12.

The relationship between cancer risk and supplements remains a topic of ongoing research.

However, the general advice is that people should be able to get all the vitamins and minerals their body needs from a healthy, balanced diet.

Despite this, almost half of Brits admit to taking a supplement at least once a month in the pursuit of optimal health.

People who think they may be deficient and therefore may need supplements are encouraged to speak to their GP for advice and possible testing.

As part of her post, Ms Andrews wrote: ‘Think twice before overloading yourself with supplements.

‘Some research suggests that excessive intake of certain vitamins and minerals may actually increase the risk of cancer and damage healthy cells.’

She also urged people to avoid alcohol and processed meats, as well as her other two tips for skipping things daily to reduce the risk of cancer.

Alcohol is a known risk factor for seven types of cancer, including breast, mouth and bowel cancer, and is estimated to cause 3 percent of all cancers in Britain.

Processed meats like bacon – especially the substances in them called nitrites and nitrates – are also known to be an established cause of cancer.

Cancer charity Cancer Research UK estimates that almost one in six of the 45,000 cases of bowel cancer diagnosed in Britain each year is caused by eating processed meat.

An estimated 385,000 Britons are diagnosed with cancer every year, while around half the population is estimated to develop the disease at some point in their lives.