Dumping junk food may provide a breath of fresh air
The list of harms that come from eating ultra-processed foods (UPF) keeps getting longer. You know such food choices contribute to chronic inflammation, damage your gut biome, harm your immune system and cognition, and make you older than your calendar years. But (a slightly controversial) new piece of research adds one more serious threat to the list.
A study in Thorax looked at data from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) CANCER Screening that was conducted from 1993 to 2001 and found that folks eating the most amount of ultra-processed foods were 41% more likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer than those who consumed the least amount.
True, some scientists are saying new studies need to be done before the UPF-cancer link can be confirmed, but anything that triggers chronic inflammation, damages the gut and deprives you of essential nutrients while feeding you colorings, emulsifiers, artificial flavors, and sweeteners, it seems the cancer risk is worth considering -- and avoiding.
More than 50% of Americans' calories come from UPFs such as chips, crackers and sweet treats, packaged breads, cereals, processed meats, even flavored yogurts. But there are tasty alternatives: fresh fruits and vegetables, skinless poultry and fatty fish, low and no-fat dairy and plant "milks" (unsweetened), and 100% whole grains like oats, barley, bulgur, and millet. Snack on nuts and dried fruits. Drink unsweetened water, black coffee and tea. And take a deep breath (and be glad you can) and dive into the recipes in my "What to Eat When Cookbook."
Health pioneer Michael Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic and author of four No. 1 New York Times bestsellers. Check out his latest, "The Great Age Reboot: Cracking the Longevity Code for a Younger Tomorrow," and find out more at www.longevityplaybook.com. Email your health and wellness questions to Dr. Mike at questions@longevityplaybook.com.
(c)2023 Michael Roizen, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
(c) 2025 Michael Roizen, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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