Study shows eating ultra-processed foods can increase risk of colorectal cancer

TAMPA, Fla — Registered dietitian and nutrition coach Brooke Sobh makes her family a big balanced breakfast every morning, making sure they are getting the right amount of protein, carbs, fats, fiber and omega-3s.

“I want to keep their bellies full. I want to give them a lot of fiber. I don’t want to give them a lot of sugar in the morning because it doesn’t start the day off very good,” she said. “Adding more fruit to the diet, adding more vegetables, adding more fiber, reducing saturated fat, and doing that in combination with whatever else they are looking for.”

A new study published in JAMA, which looked at nearly 30,000 women under 50, found that those who ate the most ultra-processed foods were at a 45% higher risk for early onset colorectal cancer. 

“So all these convenience foods that are super sugary, or just in a package, don’t have the real good stuff in it, fiber, omega-3s, protein, that is probably what’s causing them to be sick later in life,” Sobh said.

A nutrition scientist and registered dietitian at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa said ultra-processed foods can cause inflammation in the body, disrupting the gut microbiome and causing precancerous lesions in the rectum or colon.

“This is a modifiable lifestyle factor; diet and exercise are typically thought to be modifiable lifestyle factors, so it’s things that we have in our control that could potentially prevent cancer,” said Dr. Sylvia Crowder, assistant member in the Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior at the Moffitt Cancer Center.

That’s why Sobh prioritizes high-nutrient foods like egg and avocado toast for breakfast. She said not only does it prevent cancer, but it also boosts energy and stabilizes the moods of her two- and four-year-olds. 

“So I want to keep their bodies nourished so they can learn better and grow up thinking this is how I’m supposed to eat,” Sobh said.

The Moffitt Cancer Center said colorectal cancer could become the second leading cause of cancer death for young women by 2030.

For men, it’s projected to be the leading cause of cancer death also by 2030.