A concerning study regarding diet for cancer patients has emerged, revealing that patients who consume higher amounts of ultra processed foods UPFs may face nearly 60 percent higher risk of early death from their disease.
The research was published in a well known journal on cancer awareness, which is the official journal of the American cancer research organization.
Additionally, experts affiliated with an Italian research institute reviewed more than 24,000 individuals in the southern Italian region of Molise from 2005 to 2022. Among them were 802 cancer survivors whose dietary habits were analyzed in detail.
According to the study, individuals whose diets contained the highest proportion of ultra processed foods had a 48 percent higher risk of death from any cause and a 59 percent higher risk of death from cancer.
Ultra processed foods include ice cream, processed meat, chips, bakery products, ready made meals, sugary drinks, and products containing artificial sweeteners.
According to research expert Dr Marialura Bonaccio, chemical ingredients included in industrially prepared foods can affect the body’s metabolism, disrupt the balance of gut bacteria, and increase inflammation.
She said that even if calories and nutrients appear similar, the processing itself can make food more harmful.
