Ultra-processed food is the new Public Enemy No. 1

At last, I can report on something from the conventional medical community that actually makes sense.

According to a new study, a diet high in processed foods could kill you. (Once again, why we needed more research to tell us this is beyond me, but I guess I’ll take it…) And this diet is harmful not just by raising your risk of obesity, diabetes, or heart disease, either. (Though it does do all of those things.)

Turns out, all those Twinkies, Cup-A-Soups, chicken nuggets, TV dinners and pretty much any food processed in a machine (or in a box, bag, or can) may drastically increase your overall risk of cancer—and of breast cancer, in particular.

Now, I know this comes as no surprise to you—but apparently, conventional medicine is just figuring this out. So let’s take a look at what they found…

This research team linked a 10 percent increase in the proportion of “ultra-processed” foods in the diet with:

• an 11 percent increase in overall cancer risk
• a 12 percent increase in breast cancer risk (especially for products high in sugar)

In case you’re wondering, ultra-processed food — if you even want to call it “food” — includes mass-produced and packaged breads, snacks, desserts, drinks, reconstituted meat products (like meatballs, chicken nuggets, or fish sticks), instant noodles and soups, and frozen or shelf-stable meals.

Interestingly enough, this study didn’t find any link between these foods and increased risk for prostate or colorectal cancer. (Which is worth noting, as processed meats in particular have a bad rap in this department.)

Results also didn’t show any clear links between less processed foods — like canned vegetables, cheeses, and fresh, unpackaged bread — and cancer.

They did, however, find significant risk reductions — for both overall cancer and breast cancer — with a minimally processed diet consisting of whole foods. And it doesn’t take a genius to figure out why.

The list of Frankenfoods above are chock full of empty calories — low in vitamins and fiber, and high in additive and preservative chemicals. Not only that, but industrial processing itself can generate carcinogenic compounds — like acrylamide, which is linked with kidney and endometrial cancer.

And for once, isn’t even strictly an American phenomenon, either. People across the globe are eating more processed food than ever — with statistics showing that these ultra-processed products account for as much as 50 percent of the diet in places like Europe, Canada, New Zealand, and Brazil.

Do you know what that means? We are about to see a cancer epidemic the likes of which the world has never seen before…

As you already know, it takes years of bad behaviors before the worst effects start popping up in the population. We are now into our second or third generation of people who have never eaten well. As they begin to age, cancer rates are sure to skyrocket.

And there’s nothing we can do to stop it if we can’t get the medical mainstream to open their eyes and see what’s right in front of them!

Consider this take on the concept of “ultra-processed” food, from the professor emeritus of nutrition and dietetics, King’s College London:

“From a nutritional standpoint, this classification seems arbitrary and based on the premise that food produced industrially has a different nutritional and chemical composition from that produced in the home or by artisans. This is not the case.”

Oh, really? Because from where I’m sitting, there’s a world of difference between a plate of nuggets and a pan-roasted fresh chicken. Call me a pessimist, but as long as voices like this dominate the debate over our food supply, the human race doesn’t stand a chance.

 

P.S. – Eliminating processed foods from your diet is one of the many lifestyle changes you can adopt to prevent cancer from developing. Currently, I’m putting the final touches on a brand new online learning protocol where I’ll provide an array of natural strategies for cancer prevention and treatment. Stay tuned right here for more information!

Source:

medscape.com/viewarticle/892716