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Your diet may be raising your cancer risk. A nationally representative study of over 17,000 U.S. men found that higher consumption of ultra-processed foods — think soft drinks, packaged snacks, and processed meats — was associated with a 24% to 31% increased risk of prostate cancer. Researchers say the findings add to a growing body of evidence that these foods carry serious health consequences.
Your diet may be raising your cancer risk. A large new study from Florida Atlantic University found that men who eat more ultra-processed foods (UPFs) face a significantly higher risk of developing prostate cancer. Analyzing data from 17,024 U.S. men who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2003 and 2023, researchers found that higher UPF intake was consistently linked to elevated prostate cancer risk — even after adjusting for age, race, smoking, and poverty status.
UPFs — which now account for nearly 60% of adult caloric intake in the U.S. — include soft drinks, packaged cereals, snacks, and processed meats. Scientists believe these foods may promote cancer through metabolic disruption, increased inflammation, oxidative stress, and gut microbiome changes.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in U.S. men and the second leading cause of cancer death among men. With UPFs deeply embedded in the American diet, these findings carry major public health implications — and a clear call to action for clinicians to counsel patients on dietary habits.
