Why eating lots of packaged foods might hurt men's guts
Association of ultra-processed food consumption with colorectal cancer risk among men and women: results from three prospective US cohort studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Yogurt and dairy desserts reduced colorectal cancer risk by 17% in women — even though they're ultra-processed.
Most people assume all ultra-processed foods are equally bad, but this shows fermentation and probiotics may counteract harmful processing effects.
Practical Takeaways
Men: Cut back on ready-to-eat meats and sugary drinks — swap hot dogs for grilled chicken and soda for sparkling water.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Yogurt and dairy desserts reduced colorectal cancer risk by 17% in women — even though they're ultra-processed.
Most people assume all ultra-processed foods are equally bad, but this shows fermentation and probiotics may counteract harmful processing effects.
Practical Takeaways
Men: Cut back on ready-to-eat meats and sugary drinks — swap hot dogs for grilled chicken and soda for sparkling water.
Publication
Journal
The BMJ
Year
2022
Authors
Lu Wang, Mengxi Du, Kai Wang, Neha Khandpur, S. Rossato, J. Drouin-Chartier, E. Steele, E. Giovannucci, Ming-Ai Song, F. Zhang
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Claims (5)
Men who eat more ultra-processed foods have a higher likelihood of developing cancer in the lower part of the colon, even when accounting for their intake of other foods like meat, fruits, and vegetables.
Men who eat a lot of ultra-processed foods have a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer, especially in the distal colon, compared to those who eat less, even when accounting for body weight and overall diet quality.
People who eat more ready-to-eat meat, poultry, or seafood products have a higher chance of developing colorectal cancer, and those who drink more sugar-sweetened beverages also have a higher chance, even when accounting for how much ultra-processed food they eat overall.
Among women, eating more ready-to-eat mixed dishes like frozen meals is linked to a higher chance of developing colorectal cancer, while eating more yogurt and dairy-based desserts is linked to a lower chance.
Studies show that eating ultra-processed foods does not appear to increase colorectal cancer risk in women, but it is linked to higher risk in men. This difference may be due to biological or dietary factors that vary by sex.