Can seed oils, ultra-processed foods cause colorectal cancer? New study outlines the effects of an unhealthy diet
Burgers, chips and carbonated drinks are staples of a delicious, classic American meal.
But, all these foods are also examples of ultra-processed food, which researchers have once again proven are detrimental to an individual’s health.
Researchers at the University of South Florida and the Tampa General Hospital Cancer Institute say that chronic inflammation caused by ultra-processed foods and an overabundance of certain fatty acids can drive tumor growth and result in colorectal cancer, the second most common cause of cancer deaths, according to the American Cancer Society.
In short, an unhealthy diet can affect the growth and progression of colorectal cancer, according to the study.
Researchers found traces of lipids, or unhealthy fats, in 162 tumor samples from patients at Tampa General Hospital. Lipids can be found in unhealthy oils, like canola oil.
“Our bodies are designed to actively resolve inflammation through bioactive lipid compounds derived from the healthy fats, like avocados, that we consume,” said Ganesh Halade, associate professor in the USF Health Heart Institute and member of the Cancer Biology Program at TGH Cancer Institute. “Bioactive lipids are very small molecules derived from the foods that we eat and, if the molecules are coming from processed food products, they directly imbalances the immune system and drives chronic inflammation.”
Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Moffitt Cancer Center and four others contributed to the study, which was published in
Can seed oils, ultra-processed foods cause colorectal cancer? New study outlines the effects of an unhealthy diet
