A recent study led by researchers from the University of Bristol and the International Agency for Research on Cancer revealed that eating more ultra-processed foods (UPFs) might raise the risk of developing cancers in the mouth, throat, and esophagus.
They studied the habits of 450,111 adults for about 14 years. Surprisingly, obesity from high UPF consumption wasn’t the sole factor causing these cancers, as the link wasn’t related to body weight.
Eating 10% more UPFs was linked to a 23% higher risk of head and neck cancer and a 24% increased risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma, according to the findings.
Further research is needed to understand all the mechanisms linking cancer and UPFs, emphasizing the importance of a balanced diet with less reliance on processed foods for better health.