Experts say that super-processed foods such as French fries contain ingredients that increase the risk of colorectal cancer in men. Researchers say ultra-processed foods increase the risk of colorectal cancer in men, but they did not find an increased risk of colorectal cancer in women. Ultra-processed foods contain sugar, oil and fat, which can increase the risk of colorectal cancer. In addition, they say healthy foods have low nutritional content and can help prevent colorectal cancer. National plans should be implemented to make it easier for people to buy these foods.
In recent years, there has been a lot of discussion about how many super-processed foods can increase a person's chances of getting cancer.
A study in the medical trade weekly BMJ published by the British Medical Association provides new data. Researchers from Tufts University in Massachusetts and Harvard reported that men who consume ultra-processed foods had a 29% higher risk of colorectal cancer than men who consumed much less. They did not find the same connection among women.
Another study in the British Medical Journal reported the link between ultra-processed foods and cardiovascular mortality risk and all-cause mortality. According to American Cancer Society , colorectal cancer is the third largest cancer source in the United States.
Previous studies have linked hyperprocessed foods to heart health problems and the risks of inflammatory bowel disease and obesity, but few studies have evaluated the relationship between hyperprocessed food intake and colorectal cancer risk. The latest findings are based on a study of more than 46,000 men and nearly 160,000 women in three large studies conducted by healthcare professionals in the United States that evaluated dietary intake using a detailed food frequency questionnaire every four years.
What is super processed food?
Most foods are processed to a certain extent, but super-processed foods are considered the most harmful to your health. In this new study, these foods include carbonated drinks , sausages, cookies, candy, instant soup/noodle, sweet/savory packaged snacks, and sugary milk and fruit drinks. The researchers noted that these foods usually contain high levels of added sugar, fat and salt, as well as a lack of vitamins and fiber.
Researchers did not specifically determine the exact mechanism that links hyperprocessed foods to an increased risk of colorectal cancer, but scientists have some hypotheses. Dr. Lu Wang, a postdoctoral fellow at the School of Nutritional Science and Policy at Tufts University and lead author of the study, believes that ultra-processed foods are often rich in added sugars, oils/fats and refined starch, adversely changing the composition of the gut microbiota and leading to an increased risk of weight gain and obesity weight gain and obesity are established risk factors for colorectal cancer.
Ultra-processed foods have low content of nutrients and bioactive compounds, which is conducive to preventing colorectal cancer, such as fiber, calcium and vitamin D. Ultra-processed foods are composed of (most) processed meats, which are established risk factors for colorectal cancer.
In addition to malnutrition, Dr. Lu Wang notes that ultra-processed foods often contain food additives such as dietary emulsifiers and artificial sweeteners, some of which have been suggested to increase the proinflammatory potential of the gut microbiome, which may promote colon cancer. Subgroups of ultra-processed foods include processed meat products such as hotdog , salami and sausages, and sugary beverages, which are particularly associated with the risk of colorectal cancer. This study further demonstrates the need to develop policies that limit ultra-processed foods rather than promote the consumption of unprocessed or minimally processed foods to improve public health.
Lu Wang said she would like to see some kind of national legislation that requires healthier and more affordable food. It is important to make healthy food accessible and affordable for everyone to encourage people to replace superprocessed foods with healthier fresh produce. We have seen programs like “produce prescriptions” happening to make healthy food accessible and affordable for vulnerable groups. Mandatory packaging positive nutrition labels are another option, just like the mandatory menu calorie labels that have already happened, which will inspire the food industry and food suppliers to provide healthier food.
Another problem is that large companies that profit from “super processed foods” continue to be unregulated and actively marketing and receive huge subsidies. Carlos A. Monteiro, professor of the Department of Nutrition at the School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, Brazil, and Geoffrey Cannon, senior researcher at the Center for Epidemiology of Health and Nutrition at the School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, co-wrote an editorial on the study. Another important issue, Montelo believes, is the unregulated marketing of ultra-processed foods and the substantial subsidies received by companies that profit from it. Everyone needs food, but no one needs super processed food.
Given the harm of super-processed food to the human body, it is better to eat less for our own health.
