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| source : moffitt.org |
Okay, this one hit a little close to home: a new study just linked eating white, processed bread with a higher risk of dying from colon cancer. Not just a little bump in risk, either, we’re talking a 36% increase.
Researchers also flagged the usual suspects, bacon, ham, sugary drinks, but what really got me was the connection between everyday eating patterns and cancer survival. It turns out, the inflammatory potential of your diet could be one of the most overlooked risk factors for cancer progression and death.
If that sounds scary, take a breath. There’s also good news in this study, certain foods may actually help protect your body. And no, this isn’t about a “perfect” diet. It’s about patterns that either fuel or fight inflammation in your body.
Let’s unpack it.
What Is an “Inflammatory Diet”?
The study used something called the Empirical Dietary Inflammatory Pattern (EDIP), a global tool that ranks foods by how much they increase or reduce inflammation in the body.
Pro-inflammatory (aka not-so-great):
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White bread & refined carbs
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Sugary sodas
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Processed meats (bacon, ham, sausages)
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Organ meats (like liver)
Anti-inflammatory (aka better choices):
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Dark yellow veggies like sweet potatoes & carrots
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Coffee ☕
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Wine (in moderation) 🍷
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Pizza (yep, but more on that in a second)
Yes, pizza made the list, as long as it’s got cooked tomatoes, which are high in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant. So it’s not a green light for daily deep-dish, but it’s a reminder that foods are more than the sum of their carbs and cheese.
What the Study Found (Spoiler: It’s Big)
Researchers followed 1,625 colon cancer patients whose disease had spread to nearby lymph nodes (but not beyond). Over three years, they found:
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People who ate the most inflammatory foods had a
🔺 36% higher risk of dying from colon cancer, and
🔺 87% higher risk of dying overall, compared to those with the least inflammatory diets.
Now here’s where it gets even more powerful:
Patients who ate anti-inflammatory diets and exercised regularly had a
🔻 63% lower risk of death compared to those who didn’t.
“We should be prescribing diet and exercise like we do medications.”
— Dr. Julie Gralow, President of ASCO
Why Does Inflammation Matter?
Chronic, low-grade inflammation has been linked to:
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Cancer progression
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Heart disease
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Type 2 diabetes
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Autoimmune disorders
It’s like a slow-burning fire inside your body, if you keep fueling it with certain foods, the damage accumulates. And this study backs up what many in the field have been saying for years: what you eat impacts how your body responds to disease, especially cancer.
What Should You Eat Instead?
According to dietitian Monique Richard, it's not about demonizing individual foods, but understanding the bigger picture.
“Nutrition is about patterns, not just parts,” she says.
“Linoleic acid, fiber, antioxidants, they’re all helpers. But they work best in the context of real, whole foods.”
Here’s how to build a more anti-inflammatory plate:
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Vegetables with color: Think carrots, kale, sweet potatoes, broccoli
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Whole grains: Oats, quinoa, brown rice
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Healthy fats: Olive oil, avocado, nuts, seeds
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Lean proteins: Fish, beans, tofu, grilled chicken
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Fermented foods: Yogurt, kefir, kimchi (gut health = immune support)
And yes, moderate coffee and wine (if you already consume them) may have some added benefit.
Wait…Pizza?
Yep, pizza made the anti-inflammatory list. The reason? Cooked tomatoes in the sauce bring in lycopene, a compound shown to have anti-cancer properties.
But don’t confuse this with permission to order extra cheese-stuffed crust four nights a week. It’s just a reminder that context matters. A veggie-loaded, thin-crust slice made with real ingredients is a very different beast than greasy fast-food pizza.
What About Younger Adults?
Here’s the part that really needs attention: Colon cancer is rising fast in people under 50. In fact, global diagnoses in younger adults have jumped 80% in the last 30 years.
Doctors are still trying to figure out why. Hypotheses include:
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Environmental toxins
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Microplastic exposure
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Sedentary lifestyles
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Diets high in ultra-processed foods
But this study shows that diet may play a more active role than we thought, not just in prevention, but in survival once cancer is diagnosed.
Final Thoughts: Your Fork Is a Powerful Tool
Let’s be real: nobody’s perfect, and food should still bring joy. But this research is a wake-up call that the way we eat can literally impact our life expectancy, especially after a cancer diagnosis.
It’s not about avoiding one slice of bread or swearing off bacon forever. It’s about building a plate, and a lifestyle, that gives your body more support than stress.
So the next time you're deciding between a soda or a sparkling water, or whether to roast sweet potatoes or reheat white bread, know that these tiny choices are adding up. Your future self (and your colon) will thank you.