Study finds frozen pizza may increase cancer risk

frozen pizza may increase cancer – Researchers at the School of Public Health at Imperial College London have done research on ultra-processed foods and that these foods can develop ovarian and brain cancer.

frozen pizza may increase cancer

According to the American Cancer Society, ovarian cancer ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women in the United States, where it accounts for more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system. Nearly 60% of the calories that are consumed by adults in the United States are from ultra-processed foods, where they are often of low nutritional value.

Most foods go through a moderate amount of processing, these foods are cheese, salted peanut butter, pasta sauce, but ultra-processed foods have the most additives, artificial flavors, sweetener colors and preservatives. In general, these foods are subjected to some processing methods so that their flavor changes, their texture and appearance as well.

_{Soft drinks are among the ultra-processed foods, due to the large amounts of sugar (Photo: Reproduction/Creative Commons)}

The nutritional composition that is part of the nature of the ingredients of ultra-processed foods favors heart disease, diabetes and various types of cancer and also contributes to an increased risk of nutritional deficiencies.

200,000 middle-aged adults went on a diet over the ten-year period where they were evaluated by researchers at Imperial College London, they found that “Higher consumption of ultra-processed foods is associated with a higher risk of cancer overall, specifically ovarian and brain.” The researchers also found an association with an increased risk of dying from cancer.

This peer-reviewed study was also published in a journal called eClinicalMedicineof lancet and it turned out to be a collaboration with some researchers from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the University of São Paulo (USP) and also the Universidade NOVA Lisboa.

There were 197,426 individuals, but 15,921 people ended up developing cancer and there were 4,009 deaths that were related to cancer.

In a statement, Imperial College London reports that for every 10% increase in ultra-processed foods in a person’s diet, there was a 2% increase in the incidence of cancer overall and a 19% increase in ovarian cancer specifically. .

However, these links remained after adjusting for socioeconomic factors, such as smoking, physical activity and body mass index (BMI).

Featured Photo: Frozen pizza that may increase cancer risk (Photo: Reproduction/Heather Black/The New York Times)