Colon cancer is increasingly striking people in their 20s, 30s and 40s.
A new US study has linked inflammatory diets—rich in processed meats, white bread, and sugary drinks—to a 36% higher risk of death in colon cancer patients. The findings, presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) conference, followed 1,625 patients with cancer in nearby lymph glands over three years.
Patients consuming the most inflammatory foods had an 87% higher overall death risk. In contrast, those eating anti-inflammatory foods—like sweet potatoes, carrots, coffee, and pizza with tomato sauce—and exercising regularly had a 63% lower risk of death.
ASCO president Dr. Julie Gralow said, “We need to be essentially prescribing healthy diet and exercise.”
Dr. Catherine Elliott of Cancer Research UK added, “When it comes to food and cancer risk, our overall diet is far more important than any single food or ingredient.”
Another study by Maimonides Medical Centre found an anti-inflammatory diet reduced disease recurrence by 38%, while ultra-processed foods more than doubled the risk.