6 food preservatives to avoid for cancer prevention

We've heard a lot about the dangers of ultraprocessed foods for metabolic health, but a 14-year study offers a detailed look at another concern: how food preservatives impact cancer risk:¹

• Out of 17 different preservatives, 6 had red flags.
• Potassium sorbate and sulfites (often found in baked goods, cheese, and wine) were associated with a 14% higher risk of overall cancer and 26% higher risk of breast cancer.
• Sodium nitrite (found in processed meats) showed a 32% higher risk of prostate cancer among those with the highest intake.
• Potassium nitrate, acetates, and sodium erythorbate also appeared to increase risk modestly (often found in processed meats, sauces/dressings, and processed meats/soft drinks, respectively).

While the most sensible solution is just to eat real food, most of us need to reach for something packaged from time to time. It's helpful to know what ingredients to watch out for.

+Focus on food

• These "clean" foods are sabotaging you
• A key reason behind your urge to overeat
• You don't need to count calories, just eat this

If you do one thing… get excited about your age

Your mindset about aging might be one of the most powerful longevity tools you have. A new 12-year study recently found:³

• Nearly half (45%) of adults 65 and older with a good attitude about aging showed measurable improvement in cognitive function, walking speed, or both.
• Those who held more positive beliefs about aging were significantly more likely to show improvement in both brain and body function.
• Even participants with normal cognition and walking speed at the outset showed gains over time, suggesting there's untapped potential available to most of us.

So the next time your birthday rolls around, get more excited about it.

+Age on

• It's time to ditch aging-anxiety
• This helps us feel great with age
• Do you know your biological age?

Ask an RD: Is it bad to eat the same breakfast every day?

Not at all! Well, that is, as long as the meal includes protein (try to aim for 30+ grams in the a.m.), fiber, and healthy fats. When you find a meal that meets this criteria, it's something you enjoy, and it helps you actually stick to having breakfast every day, then absolutely eat it on repeat. I do this with overnight oats!

The main downside is missing out on nutrient variety over time. So my advice is to just add a bit of variety to your week (don't worry, it's still low effort!)

• Find 2-3 fave breakfast recipes you can alternate (i.e. chia pudding for a couple days and then opting for an egg dish).
• Or, rotate ingredients occasionally (think adding different fruits, nuts, grains, or veggies.

+Good mornin'!

• Use this formula to build your dream breakfast
• High-protein vs. high-fiber breakfast — which one is better?
• This tasty yogurt bowl covers all your bases

- mindbodygreen editor &
author of mbg's newsletter Functional Food,
Molly Knudsen, M.S., RDN

That's it for the long game—we hope you're geared up for the week ahead of you.