Men who take in high rates of ultra-processed foods are at 29% higher risk for developing colorectal cancer than men who eat much smaller amounts, research finds.
The study did not find the same association in women.
Colorectal cancer is the third most diagnosed cancer in the United States.
“We started out thinking that colorectal cancer could be the cancer most impacted by diet compared to other cancer types,” says Lu Wang, a postdoctoral fellow at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, and lead author of the study in The BMJ.
“Processed meats, most of which fall into the category of ultra-processed foods, are a strong risk factor for colorectal cancer. Ultra-processed foods are also high in added sugars and low in fiber, which contribute to weight gain and obesity, and obesity is an established risk factor for colorectal cancer.”…