A video shared by Dr Priyanka Sehrawat, a neurologist at AIIMS Delhi, is gaining attention on Instagram. In the clip, she highlights two everyday kitchen habits that may increase cancer risk, and they’re more common than you think.
Sharing the clip, she wrote, “I hope you know this!!! 2 kitchen habits to reduce your risk of cancer.”
2 Kitchen Habits That Increase Cancer Risk
1. Damaged Non-Sticky Pans Can Be Risky
Dr Sehrawat clarifies that non-stick pans aren’t harmful unless the coating is damaged. When the non-stick layer begins to peel or flake, it can release harmful chemicals into your food. Some of these chemicals may act as carcinogens, substances that can increase the risk of cancer by turning normal cells into cancerous ones.
What you can do:
If your pan is scratched or peeling, replace it immediately.
Switch to safer alternatives like cast iron or stainless steel pans for everyday cooking.
2. Reusing and Reheating Cooking Oil
The second habit she warns against is reheating and reusing cooking oil. This is especially common during deep-frying, for example, when making puris or snacks.
When oil is reused and heated again, it produces harmful molecules that may have carcinogenic properties. Repeated exposure to these substances may increase your cancer risk over time.
Better habit:
Try not to reuse oil for multiple rounds of frying.
Always use fresh oil when preparing deep-fried items.
Dr Sehrawat explains that cancer is influenced by many factors, including genetics, lifestyle, diet, and environment. While we can’t change inherited risk factors, we can control certain everyday habits like the kitchen choices we make.
