Women under 50 who regularly eat ultra-processed foods are at a higher risk of developing abnormal growths in their bowels that could lead to cancer, a new study has found. These foods, which include many packaged and processed goods, are typically low in essential nutrients like fibre and vitamins, and high in unhealthy ingredients such as saturated fat, sugar, and salt.
The study, led by Dr Andrew Chan of Massachusetts General hospital, looked at data from over 29,000 female nurses born between 1947 and 1964. The researchers found that those who ate the most ultra-processed foods – on average, 9.9 servings a day – were 45% more likely to develop early-onset conventional adenomas than those who ate the least, such as 3.3 servings a day.
While the study did not directly measure cancer risk, it suggests that ultra-processed diets may play a role in driving rising rates of bowel cancer among younger people. Dr Chan noted that while the results do not suggest that eating ultra-processed foods will inevitably lead to cancer, they do offer insight into how diet may influence early changes in the bowel that can sometimes lead to cancer.
The study's findings are consistent with previous research that has linked ultra-processed diets to a range of health problems, including heart disease and premature death. Dr Chan suggested that up to 60% of food consumed by humans today is ultra-processed, and that reducing this intake may be key to preventing bowel cancer and other diseases.
Health experts say that while the study's findings are promising, more research is needed to confirm its results and understand the underlying mechanisms at play. Fiona Osgun, head of health information at Cancer Research UK, noted that policy-level changes were needed to make healthier diets more accessible for everyone. "Our overall diet matters more for cancer risk than any single food type," she said.
The study, led by Dr Andrew Chan of Massachusetts General hospital, looked at data from over 29,000 female nurses born between 1947 and 1964. The researchers found that those who ate the most ultra-processed foods – on average, 9.9 servings a day – were 45% more likely to develop early-onset conventional adenomas than those who ate the least, such as 3.3 servings a day.
While the study did not directly measure cancer risk, it suggests that ultra-processed diets may play a role in driving rising rates of bowel cancer among younger people. Dr Chan noted that while the results do not suggest that eating ultra-processed foods will inevitably lead to cancer, they do offer insight into how diet may influence early changes in the bowel that can sometimes lead to cancer.
The study's findings are consistent with previous research that has linked ultra-processed diets to a range of health problems, including heart disease and premature death. Dr Chan suggested that up to 60% of food consumed by humans today is ultra-processed, and that reducing this intake may be key to preventing bowel cancer and other diseases.
Health experts say that while the study's findings are promising, more research is needed to confirm its results and understand the underlying mechanisms at play. Fiona Osgun, head of health information at Cancer Research UK, noted that policy-level changes were needed to make healthier diets more accessible for everyone. "Our overall diet matters more for cancer risk than any single food type," she said.
! I mean, 9.9 servings of ultra-processed foods a day? That's like, so not healthy at all 
. I remember my grandma used to make her own jam and stuff from scratch, and it was always way healthier than buying packaged goods from the supermarket. I'm definitely going to cut back on that processed crap, especially now that I know it can lead to cancer 
. 60% of food consumed by humans is ultra-processed? That's like, crazy! We need some serious changes in the way we eat, you know? More fruits and veggies, less junk food. My friend always says that eating healthy is like, super important for your mental health too 
. Anyway, I'm definitely going to start making more of my own meals at home now 
.
I'm not surprised by this study 
It's time for us to take responsibility and make some changes. We can't just blame the food manufacturers, we need to hold ourselves accountable too 
.
. We need policy changes to make sure everyone has access to nutritious food, not just the privileged few.
, and we should be proud of researchers like Dr Chan for shedding some light on this issue 
. Now it's up to us to spread the word and demand change 
that eating all the packaged goods and processed snacks 
can lead to abnormal growths in your bowels 
and potentially even cancer 
Anyway, it's not like I'm going to stop eating pizza just yet (no matter how much my grandma says I should 
) but maybe I'll try to mix in some actual food that doesn't come out of a box or bag 
. 60% of our diet being ultra-processed is wild 
, gotta make those policy changes ASAP 
! More research would be cool tho 
I mean, 45% is a big difference. It's like night and day, right? Eating 6 extra servings of processed crap a day vs eating only 3? It's just crazy how much of our diet is literally garbage 
. And it's not even like we're talking about just any old processed food, we're talking about the kind that's basically just a mixture of salt and sugar 
it's all about balance, folks... fibre and vitamins are your friends 
not those unhealthy ingredients like saturated fat and sugar. gotta make sure our tummies (and bodies) get the right mix of goodness. 
also, 60% of food is ultra-processed? that's crazy! need to shake things up and make healthier options more accessible for everyone 
. maybe they could create more affordable alternatives to ultra-processed foods or something? 
I mean come on! 9.9 servings of ultra-processed foods a day? That's crazy talk! 
Like, what's the deal with those things? They're literally designed to be addictive! 
. 9.9 servings a day? That's insane 
! The thought that up to 60% of our food intake is ultra-processed is just crazy 
. I'm definitely going to recheck my pantry and fridge ASAP 
. And it makes sense that our diet plays a role in bowel changes that can lead to cancer 
. It's like, we're literally fueling our own health problems with the food we eat.
. I'm all for balance and moderation, but this study shows us that even healthy-looking foods can be detrimental if they're super processed 
.
i know some ppl might be thinking "but what about just eating healthy" and i get it, it's not that easy... but come on we need to start taking care of ourselves before it's too late 
and that we can't just blame one specific food for our problems anymore 
how can we just make healthier choices when the majority of our options are already bad? 
need to cut back on the junk ASAP 
the study says ultra-processed foods are low on nutrients and high on unhealthy stuff like sugar and salt, that sounds super sketchy 
- it's gonna catch up to you eventually. I know it's easy to grab a quick bite from a package or a can, but trust me, those foods are like poison 
for your insides. It's crazy that we're already seeing the rise of bowel cancer in younger people, and this study just confirms what we've known all along - processed foods aren't good for us