PROCESSED FOOD X CA

It is true that correlation is not causation: just because those who consumed highly-processed foods were more likely to develop cancer does not mean that the highly-processed foods directly caused cancer. That said, the authors were careful to control for variables that we know can affect your risk of cancer, including age, body mass index, physical activity levels, smoking status, alcohol intake, family history of cancer, and even menopausal status and number of children (for women). This makes it more likely that the highly-processed nature of the foods consumed may have had some effect on cancer risk.

Certainly this is another piece of evidence showing that avoiding highly-processed foods is good for you in the long term. Of note, the 2 largest food types contributing to the highly-processed foods were drinks and "sugary products" (20% and 26% of ultra-processed foods consumed, respectively). The simple message for your patients? Tell them to drink water, minimize sweets, and cook at home as much as they can. They'll be healthier in more ways than just avoiding cancer.