The worst eating habit for colon cancer, a new study suggests – Eat this, not that

Colon cancer, also known as colon cancer, is one of the most common cancer diagnoses people face in the United States, according to Cancer.org. In fact, the American Cancer Society estimates that well over 106,000 new cases of colon cancer will be diagnosed in 2022 alone, in addition to 44,850 new cases of rectal cancer. Additionally, colon cancer is among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths, which is just one reason why you should avoid the disease whenever possible. That’s why you’ll also be interested to know that a new study has identified the worst eating habits for colon cancer.

In which BMJ In a study published on Aug. 20, 2022, researchers looked at three separate studies involving more than 200,000 healthcare professionals in the United States. Around 46,000 of the participants were men and almost 160,000 women. They initially provided information about their eating habits by means of a questionnaire every four years and were explicitly asked how much and how regularly they consumed highly processed foods.

When the researchers followed the participants 25 years later, they found that 1,294 men and 1,922 women had been diagnosed with colon cancer. They found that too Men who ate more ultra-processed foods were 29% more likely to develop colon cancer, even when other variables were accounted for.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

“This study is incredibly interesting,” Radhika Smith, MDWashington University colorectal surgeon at the Siteman Cancer Center Eat this, not that! “It further demonstrates the link between diet and obesity and colorectal cancer.”

dr Smith explains that ultra-processed foods can impact colon cancer risk because of the harmful, potentially carcinogenic ingredients found in these foods.

“A lot of these ultra-processed foods are made with additives and preservatives that are known to be carcinogenic,” says Dr. Smith. “Some of these additives have not yet been directly linked to the development of cancer, but with the rising risk of young colorectal cancer patients, we have concerns about unknown factors in the foods we eat.”

Another reason ultra-processed foods can lead to cancer is that they are high in calories, which can lead to weight gain. “There is a clear link between obesity and colon cancer, and a diet high in processed foods may also be high in calories,” adds Dr. Smith added.

RELATED: What happens to your body when you give up processed foods

While the study found that women who ate more convenience foods and hot mixed meals increased their risk of colon cancer, ultra-processed foods didn’t have the same effect. dr Smith addresses this by saying that “we don’t know that much about who gets colon cancer and why, so we can only draw so many conclusions from the available data.”

Tips to cut back on ultra-processed foods

When it comes to examples of popular ultra-processed foods that people should avoid, says Dr. Smith Eat this, not that!“In general, I encourage patients to simply avoid foods with an ingredient list. The more fresh meat and dairy you can choose from, the better.”

“If you decide to eat something processed, look at that ingredient list and avoid foods that contain something you can’t pronounce. It’s pretty simple, but it’s a good rule of thumb that will help protect you and your family. ” says Dr. Smith.

Desiree O