Do ultra-processed foods contribute to lung cancer?

Ultra-processed foods may be a staple in your house due to their convenience. Though, you may want to reconsider how much of these grab-and-go items you consume.  

That’s because a new study by the respiratory journal Thorax discovered there might be a high correlation between lung cancer diagnoses and eating high amounts of ultra-processed foods, foods that often contain many ingredients to make them shelf stable and offer little nutritional value. 

The study reviewed data from over 100,000 people who completed a food frequency questionnaire as part of the US Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial. Participants between the ages of 55 and 74 had their dietary habits compared with whether they had been diagnosed with lung cancer. 

Those who ate the most ultra-processed foods were 41% more likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer, even after accounting for other factors like smoking. The three top ultra-processed foods believed to increase lung cancer risk were lunch meat (11%), diet or caffeinated soft drinks (7%), and decaffeinated soft drinks (nearly 7%).

“While the findings from this study are informative, they aren’t definitive,” says Dr. Michael Breen, a hematologist and oncologist at Advocate Health Care. “The study strongly suggests ultra-processed foods may contribute to lung cancer risk, but it doesn’t prove they cause lung cancer.” 

How can you avoid ultra-processed foods? 

“When it comes to ultra-processed foods, you want to pay attention to its list of additives and preservatives,” says Dr. Breen. “Ultra-processed foods usually go through multiple processing steps and usually contain high amounts of fat, sugar and salt.” 

Some examples of ultra-processed foods include sour cream, cream cheese, ice cream, fried foods, candy, soft drinks and breakfast cereals.  

Despite their prominence, you can avoid ultra-processed foods by focusing on whole, unprocessed foods, such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables, avoiding products with a long list of ingredients and cooking more meals at home so you can control its contents. 

“The most important takeaway from this study is to always be cognizant of the food you’re putting into your body and its effect on your health,” says Dr. Breen. “Maintaining a healthy diet can be difficult, but our goal is always improvement, not perfection.” 

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