A recent study published in a leading international journal has uncovered a potential link between the Western diet and chronic inflammation, which fuels the growth and progression of colorectal cancer. Researchers at USF Health and Tampa General Hospital Cancer Institute have found that ultra-processed foods and inflammatory seed oils used in packaged food products can contribute to chronic inflammation.
The study’s findings suggest that a diet rich in unhealthy ingredients can hinder the body’s natural healing processes, making it more challenging for the immune system to fight off cancer. The researchers discovered an excess number of molecules that promote inflammation and a shortage of those that help resolve it and promote healing inside the tumors.
To address this issue, the study’s authors propose a new approach called resolution medicine, which focuses on restoring balance in the patient’s diet using healthy, unprocessed foods rich with omega-3 fatty acids. This natural therapy aims to reverse inflammation and potentially reverse colorectal cancer.
Resolution medicine involves harnessing the body’s immune system to fight off cancer by utilizing specialized pro-resolving mediators derived from fish oil. Early trials using these derivatives have shown promise in addressing inflammation at its root cause, paving the way for further research and potential new treatments.
The study’s lead authors emphasize the urgent need to reevaluate the components of the Western diet, which typically consists of excessive consumption of added sugars, saturated fats, ultra-processed foods, chemicals, and inflammatory seed oils. By making dietary changes and incorporating healthy, unprocessed foods into our diets, we may be able to prevent diseases before they start and revolutionize cancer treatment.
Source: https://www.usf.edu/news/2024/how-ultra-processed-foods-may-drive-colorectal-cancer-risk.aspx