These eight foods and drinks can increase your risk of cancer

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S., falling just behind heart disease. In fact, over 1.7 million new cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed in 2019, with approximately 606,880 Americans estimated to die of the disease this year alone, according to the American Cancer Society. Though medical strides have been made in combatting cancer, the best way to reduce your risk of getting the disease is to be mindful of your diet.

Research suggests that less than 30 percent of a person's lifetime risk of getting cancer is due to uncontrollable factors like genetics and the environment, Harvard Health Publishing notes. Everything else — namely an individual's diet — is very much manageable. Though many studies have not proven a direct cause-and-effect connection between one's diet and cancer, they have shown multiple links between the two. "It [is] not 100 percent certain that consuming more or less of certain foods or nutrients will guarantee cancer protection," said Dr. Edward Giovannucci of Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health. "But science has found that certain dietary habits tend to have a greater influence."

Here are eight foods and drinks that can increase your risk of cancer.