Eating UHT foods and beverages increases the risk of colorectal cancer.
In a large study conducted by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a center supported by the La Caixa Foundation, scientists analyzed the relationship between processed food and drink and two other cancers; no association with prostate cancer was seen, however, for breast cancer, a higher risk was observed in the subgroup of former and current smokers who reported a diet high in ultra-processed foods.
The Nova classification system groups all foods and beverages into four categories based on the degree of processing. Ultra-processed foods — the ones that go through the most processing — are industrial formulations with more than five ingredients, which usually contain additional substances such as sugar, fats, salt, and additives. Examples of products in this category include sugary soft drinks, ready meals, and mass-produced industrial baked goods.
A study found that consumption of UHT foods and beverages was associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer: a 10% increase in consumption of UHT foods and beverages was associated with an 11% increased risk of colorectal cancer.
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