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Massive Study Challenges Cancer Fears Linked to Ultra-Processed Foods
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What Happened?
A study of over 460,000 Americans found no overall link between ultra-processed foods and colorectal cancer. However, some ultra-processed foods were associated with lower cancer rates.
Key points
- The study involved 461,682 Americans aged 50-71.
- Participants were tracked for nearly 19 years.
- Higher intake of whole grains and dairy from ultra-processed sources linked to lower cancer rates.
- Processed meats were associated with higher cancer rates.
- Substituting minimally processed foods for ultra-processed foods could lower cancer incidence by 2%.
- Findings may not apply to younger or more diverse populations.
Key insights
- The study suggests that not all ultra-processed foods are equally harmful.
- Nutritional content of foods may be more important than their processing level.
- The results align with existing dietary guidelines for colorectal cancer prevention.
Why it matters
The findings may influence dietary recommendations for cancer prevention.
Tags
Entities
Erikka Loftfield· PersonNational Cancer Institute· OrganizationPLOS Medicine· Event
Source
Science Daily
