A growing number of oncologists are sounding the alarm about a shocking increase in cancer diagnoses among young adults. The culprit?
Junk food and processed meat.
According to experts, the rise of ultra-processed foods and processed meats in our diets is having a devastating impact on our health.
What’s Behind the Rise of Cancer in Young Adults?
“We advise people to eat less overly processed, high in saturated fat, sugar, and salt food,” says Matthew Lambert, a nutritionist and health information manager at the World Cancer Research Fund.
This includes foods like cakes, biscuits, pastries, chips, sugar-sweetened drinks, and fast food like pizza and burgers. Cancer is hitting young people hard, especially women and adults in their 30s.
Dr. Coral Olazagasti, an assistant professor of clinical medical oncology, says, “It’s been pretty alarming to all of us.
In the past, you would think cancer was a disease of the elderly population, but now we’re seeing trends of people getting diagnosed with cancer earlier and earlier.”
The Dangers of Processed Meat and Ultra-Processed Foods
Processed meats have been deemed carcinogenic to humans by the World Health Organization.
Ultra-processed foods, which include packaged goods, drinks, cereals, and ready-to-eat products, are high in sugar, saturated fat, and salt, and low in vitamins and fibre.
Research has shown that these foods can lead to gut bacteria that can initiate cancer. In fact, a recent study found that people who eat 10% more ultra-processed foods than others have a 23% higher risk of head and neck cancer.
The Risks of a Junk Food Diet
A diet high in junk food and processed meat has been linked to a range of cancers, including bowel, oesophagus, and colorectal cancer.
The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified processed meat as “carcinogenic to humans.”
Experts believe that the increased cancer risk may be caused by nitrates within the meat that combine with compounds in the body to damage cells.
According to research, people who eat red and processed meat every day are 40% more likely to get bowel cancer compared to those who eat it once a week or less.
What Can You Do to Reduce Your Risk?
So, what can you do to reduce your risk of cancer? Experts recommend eating a balanced diet that is low in processed and ultra-processed foods and high in fibre, vitamins, and nutrients.
This means cutting back on foods like cakes, biscuits, and fast food, and increasing your intake of whole foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
By making a few simple changes to your diet, you can significantly reduce your risk of cancer and improve your overall health.