I'm a doctor on the frontlines of America's colon cancer crisis and I think a few common ingredients may be responsible
Share:
Dr Maria Abreu is on the cutting edge of one of the biggest health tragedies in a generation. Over the past decade, the Miami gastroenterologist has diagnosed an increasing number of young people with colon cancer - once considered an old person's disease.
![[A recent study from researchers in Florida suggests that seed oils and other ultra-processed foods could lead to inflammation and fuel a rise in colon cancers]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/19/16/93001455-14210777-A_study_from_researchers_in_Florida_suggests_that_seed_oils_and_-a-1_1734624749231.jpg)
Obesity, sedentary lifestyles, and ultra-processed foods have long been blamed for the rise, but Dr Abreu said she's increasingly seeing people develop the condition who are young and healthy -and she's convinced there's more to the story. The physician, who is also the president of the American Gastroenterological Association, previously told DailyMail.com she believes several additives that have become pervasive in the American food supply could be behind the country's colon cancer crisis.
![[High fructose corn syrup is extremely common in popular foods because a small amount is incredibly sweet, making it cost-effective for food manufacturers]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/09/25/19/81328203-13890137-High_fructose_corn_syrup_is_extremely_common_in_popular_foods_be-a-2_1727290389066.jpg)
The first is high-fructose corn syrup, a liquid sweetener uniquely common to the United States and not used in other countries. It's usually associated with junk food like sodas and desserts but it has also snuck into more 'healthy' foods such as salad dressings, oatmeal, fruit juices, cereals and bread.
![[Joe Faratzis, 34, from Los Angeles, is pictured above in his twenties before his stage-four colon cancer was detected (left) and during treatment which began in 2020 (right)]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/09/25/19/82372403-13890137-Joe_Faratzis_now_34_pictured_before_the_cancer_was_detected-a-3_1727290277127.jpg)
She also pointed to emulsifiers, which are used to give foods a creamy texture and found in healthy foods such as low-fat yogurts, cottage cheese, and peanut butter. Additionally, research published this month shifts the blame to seed oils, processed oils found in condiments, salad dressings, pre-marinated meat, hummus, and some chips.
![[Laurie Koshers, pictured above with two of her children, was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer at 44 years old. Mrs Koshers was a lifelong vegetarian and avid runner, so her cancer diagnosis came as a shock]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/09/25/17/89234559-13890137-Laurie_Koshers_pictured_above_with_two_of_her_children_was_diagn-m-24_1727280901877.jpg)
The above graph shows the rise of colorectal cancer in Americans under 50 in the last two decades. A recent study from researchers in Florida suggests that seed oils and other ultra-processed foods could lead to inflammation and fuel a rise in colon cancers.
