Optimize Your Fridge Use to Ward Off Cancer

This comes from a study by experts at Hanoi Medical University who surveyed and analyzed data through interviews with hundreds of cancer-free individuals and cancer patients.

1. Optimize Your Fridge Use to Ward Off Cancer

This comes from a study by experts at Hanoi Medical University who surveyed and analyzed data through interviews with hundreds of cancer-free individuals and cancer patients.

This comes from a study by experts at Hanoi Medical University who surveyed and analyzed data through interviews with hundreds of cancer-free individuals and cancer patients. The results indicate that the incidence of stomach cancer is higher in families that do not use a refrigerator.

Refrigerators Prevent Cancer-Causing Substances

Out of 330 individuals not using refrigerators to store food, 185 cancer patients had stomach cancer, while 145 did not. As for those using refrigerators, out of the 282 surveyed, 121 had stomach cancer and 161 did not.

Surveying 268 individuals not using refrigerators for colorectal cancer, 145 were diagnosed with the disease, while 123 were not. Among the 220 households using refrigerators, 99 had colorectal cancer and 121 did not.

According to Associate Professor Le Tran Ngoan from the Department of Occupational Health, Hanoi Medical University, the survey shows that families with refrigerators reduce the risk of stomach and colorectal cancer compared to those without.

In terms of household food use, refrigerators help preserve food, prevent mold, and inhibit the formation of Aflatoxin contaminating food and dishes. For example, nuts stored in the refrigerator are less susceptible to mold. Moldy nuts produce Aflatoxin, which causes cancer. Signs of moldy nuts include a bitter taste when eaten.

Associate Professor Le Tran Ngoan further shares: Refrigerators also help protect and maintain valuable nutrients such as vitamins, micronutrients, and minerals found in fresh vegetables and fruits, contributing to enhancing the nutritional quality that helps prevent stomach and colorectal cancer...

Refrigerators preserve food, prevent mold, and inhibit the formation of Aflatoxin contaminating food.

Proper Use of Refrigerators

According to refrigerator experts, properly storing food in refrigerators helps maintain freshness, flavor, limits nutrient loss, and prevents harmful substance formation, thus avoiding health risks. However, this is just the 'main aspect' of using refrigerators for food preservation. Not all food placed in the refrigerator can meet these factors. Many families store food in the refrigerator carelessly and for too long, leading to mold and spoilage. Therefore, depending on the type of food, the storage time needs to be adjusted to limit the change and development of harmful substances.

Associate Professor Nguyen Duc Loi from the Institute of Refrigeration Science, Hanoi University of Technology, suggests that different types of food should be stored in different compartments to avoid odor contamination, bacterial spread, and temperature differences affecting food nutrients. The freezer compartment typically has a temperature of -10°C for freezing food.

The lower compartments are divided to store cooked and raw food separately, as well as fruits... The upper compartments should be used to store raw food, ensuring freshness. All food and fruits should be placed in trays, boxes, or sealed bags to prevent odor leakage and water from dripping everywhere in the refrigerator.

Food stored in the refrigerator should be consumed promptly, avoiding prolonged storage. According to studies, household refrigerators with temperatures of about -12°C or higher can preserve food for a few weeks to 2 months. Ideally, fresh products should be consumed within a day, up to 2 days at most. Dry food should only be stored for about 1 month.

Furthermore, Associate Professor Nguyen Duc Loi also mentions: Even the freezer compartments of refrigerators need a certain amount of time depending on the set temperature. A refrigerator set at -12°C can preserve food for 2 - 3 months, -18°C for 5 - 6 months, -29°C for a year.