Colon canceralso known as colorectal cancer, is one of the most common cancer diagnoses faced by those living in the United States, according to cancer.org. In fact, the American Cancer Society estimates that more than 106,000 new cases of colon cancer will be diagnosed in 2022 alone, in addition to 44,850 new cases of rectal cancer. Beyond that, colorectal cancer is among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths, which is just one reason you’ll want to avoid the disease if possible. That’s why you’ll also be interested to know that a new study has determined the worst eating habit for colon cancer.
In the BMJ study published on August 31, 2022, the researchers analyzed three separate studies that involved more than 200,000 health professionals in the United States. About 46,000 of the participants were men, while almost 160,000 were women. Initially providing information about their eating habits through a questionnaire every four years, they were explicitly asked about how much ultra-processed food they ate and how often.
When the researchers followed up with the participants 25 years later, they found that 1,294 men had been diagnosed with colon cancer along with 1,922 women. They also found that men who ate more ultra-processed foods were 29% more likely to be diagnosed with colon cancer even when other variables were considered.
“This study is incredibly interesting,” radika smithDoctor in medicinecolorectal surgeon at the University of Washington at Siteman Cancer Center, says Eat this, not that! “It further proves the link of diet and obesity with colorectal cancer.”
Dr. Smith explains that ultra-processed foods may affect colon cancer risk due to harmful and potentially carcinogenic ingredients found in these foods.
“A lot of these ultra-processed foods are made with additives and preservatives that are known carcinogens,” says Dr. Smith. “Some of these additives have not yet been directly linked to causing cancer, but given the increased risk of young patients with colorectal cancerwe have to worry about unknown factors in the food we eat.”
Another reason ultra-processed foods can lead to cancer is that they are calorically dense, which can lead to weight gain. “There is a clear link between obesity and colorectal cancer, and diets rich in processed foods it could also be high in calories,” adds Dr. Smith.
At the same time, although the study found that women who ate more prepared and heat-mixed foods increased their risk of colon cancer, ultra-processed foods did not have the same effect. Dr. Smith addresses this by saying that “there is so much we don’t know about who gets colorectal cancer and why, so we can only draw so many conclusions from the available data.”
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Tips to reduce the consumption of ultra-processed foods
When it comes to examples of popular ultra-processed foods that people should avoid, Dr. Smith says Eat this, not that!“Generally speaking, I encourage patients to avoid foods that have an ingredient list. The more meats, dairy and fresh produce they can choose from, the better.”
“If you choose something that has been processed, look at the ingredient list and avoid foods that contain anything you can’t pronounce. It’s pretty simple, but it’s a good rule of thumb to help keep you and your family safe.”, says Dr Smith.
Desiree O
Desirée O is a freelance writer who covers lifestyle, food and nutrition news, among other topics. Read more about Desiree
