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- Studies show that people who eat a lot of ultra-processed foods are more likely to develop cancer.
- For every 10% increase in ultra-processed foods in the diet, there is a 2% increase in cancer risk.
- Ultra-processed foods include packaged snacks, reconstituted meat products, and prepared foods.
Studies show that people who eat large amounts of ultra-processed foods are more likely to develop cancer.
The study was conducted over 10 years and included nearly 200,000 participants in the UK with an average age of 58 years. The researchers compared whether he developed 34 types of cancer and how much UPF they took in him.
In this study, UPF included products such as soft drinks, mass-produced industrial processed breads, sweet or savory packaged snacks, breakfast cereals, reconstituted meat products, and ready-made meals. It was
According to the British Heart Foundation charity, ultra-processed foods “usually contain five or more ingredients and contain industrial substances such as preservatives, emulsifiers, sweeteners, artificial colors and flavors. ”.
This is the latest study to find a link between eating UPF, which makes up a large portion of people’s diets in countries including the US and UK, and increased risk of certain diseases.
That’s because a US-based study last year found that men who consumed the highest levels of UPF were 29% more likely to develop colorectal cancer.
Researchers in a British study found that middle-aged adults who ate a lot of UPF not only had a higher risk of cancer in general, but also a higher risk of certain types of diseases, such as brain cancer and ovarian cancer. It was concluded that the high
For every 10% increase in ultra-processed foods in participants’ diets, the risk of cancer rose by 2%, and the risk of ovarian cancer rose to 19%, the researchers stressed.
A person’s chance of dying from cancer also increased with more UPF intake. For every 10% increase, he had a 6% higher risk of death, a 16% higher risk of breast cancer, and a 30% higher risk of ovaries.
Dr Kiara Chan, author of the study published in the journal eClinicalMedicine, said in a press release:
“Ultra-processed food is ubiquitous and highly marketed at cheap prices and attractive packaging to encourage consumption. It shows the urgent need for reform.”
More research needed on UPF and cancer, experts say
Tom Saunders, Emeritus Professor of Nutrition and Dietetics at King’s College London, UK, who was not involved in the study, said that between those who eat the most UPF and those who eat the least. said there were a number of statistically significant differences in being obese, including whether they smoked or exercised, making it “statistically almost impossible” to account for them in the study.
He said that this kind of research “could help pick out some new risk factors for further investigation.” It is difficult.”
Dr Simon Steenson, nutrition scientist at the British Nutrition Foundation charity, who was not involved in the study, said:
Poor diets are often “high in energy, saturated fat, salt and free sugars and low in fruits, vegetables, fiber and essential nutrients, dietary factors known to negatively impact health,” he said. .
He continued, “The problem with the UPF concept is that this category offers key nutrients, such as packaged whole-grain breads that contain fiber and essential vitamins and minerals, or high-fiber, low-sugar breakfast cereals. It may also include foods that are commonly consumed.”
These types of foods can “form an important part of a healthy, balanced diet and provide affordable and widely available options that can form the basis of a nutritious diet.” .
