Does sitting down to a meal of ultra-processed food do more than fill your stomach? According to a new study published in British Medical Journal, yes: it also raises the risk of certain cancers.

Noelle LoConte, MD, associate professor, Hematology, Medical Oncology and Palliative Care, discussed the topic of how consuming ultra-processed foods and alcohol can raise the risk of certain cancers. 

"We've thought for some time that processed foods and ultra-processed foods might be a risk factor for certain types of cancer, particularly colorectal cancer and breast cancer. That is indeed what they found here: The rates of all cancers together and breast cancer were increased if you were in the highest-intake group for ultra-processed foods," said Dr. LoConte. 

Resources:

• "Study: Processed Foods May Cause Cancer," Wisconsin Public Radio, February 23, 2018
• Fiolet T, et al. 2018. Consumption of ultra-processed foods and cancer risk: results from NutriNet-Santé prospective cohort. BMJ 360:k322