Fizzy drinks, ice cream and instant noodles could up your risk of LUNG cancer by 41%
FOOD FOR THOUGHT Fizzy drinks, ice cream and instant noodles could up your risk of LUNG cancer by 41%
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
SCOFFING fizzy drinks, ice cream and instant noodles could send your lung cancer risk soaring by 41 per cent, experts warn.
A major study has found people who munch the most ultra-processed foods - or UPFs - are far more likely to get the disease than those who avoid them.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
3
Fizzy drinks have been linked to lung cancer
Credit: Getty Images - Getty
3
The findings don't prove ultra-processed foods cause cancer, rather that people should still try to cut down
Credit: Getty
An international team of scientists said junk food is particularly bad for non-small cell lung cancer and the more aggressive small cell type.
Professor Sam Hare, consultant chest radiologist at the Royal Free London NHS Trust, said: 'A quarter of lung cancer cases occur in non-smokers so we do need research exploring whether other factors are associated with lung cancer."
The study tracked the diets and health of more than 100,000 adults in the US over 12 years and found 1,706 went on to develop lung cancer.
On average, people had nearly three servings of UPFs a day, but some had up to six.
The favourites across diets were soft drinks and lunch meats.
But the list also includes fried food, cakes, pastries, salty snacks, breakfast cereals, instant noodles and soups, margarine, sweets, burgers, hot dogs and pizza.
Those who scoffed the most UPFs were 41 per cent more likely to get lung cancer than those who ate the least, according to findings in Thorax.
The research team, tried to account for whether people smoked or not, but not how heavily, which could still skew the results.
They warned the findings don't prove UPFs cause lung cancer, but said people should still try to cut down.
They wrote: 'Although additional research in other populations and settings is warranted, these findings suggest the healthy benefits of limiting UPF.
I'm a doctor and these 5 changes could be a sign of deadly lung cancer
"Limiting trends of UPF intake globally could contribute to reducing the burden of lung cancer.'
Prof Hare said further work was needed "to establish direct causation between UPFs and lung cancer".
"Crucially, whilst the study does make some adjustments for smoking status, the amount of smoking is not factored in, which is known to be directly related to lung cancer development," he said.
'Dietary habits also change considerably over the course of such long-term studies.
3
Lung cancer symptoms usually only emerge as the disease develops
"It's difficult to directly conclude that lung cancer is related to the level of UPF consumption alone given it was only declared at the start of the study.
'That said, given the relative lack of info on non-smoking risk factors for lung cancer, it's important that the scientific community does more studies like this – we need genuine evidence-based advancement in early diagnosis of lung cancer in non-smokers, but this study isn't quite able to give us the answers yet.'
The findings come as a separate study looked at teenage smoking in the UK over 50 years.
Experts from the University of Michigan tracked rates in 16 and 17-year-olds from 1974 to 2018, and found it had dropped from 33 per cent to 12 per cent.
But in 2018, 11 per cent of older teens were vaping and those who did were far more likely to go on to smoke.
Writing in Tobacco Control, the authors said just 1.5 per cent of non-vaping teens picked up cigarettes, compared to 33 per cent of vapers.
'Tobacco control efforts should continue to focus on the prevention of general youth nicotine use and to specifically target youth who use e-cigarettes because their risk of cigarette smoking is similar to youth in the 1970s,' they wrote.
But some academics have slammed the findings, saying the conclusion is 'not justified'.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
5 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Potatoes ‘increase your risk of type 2 diabetes by 20%' – but it all depends how you cook them
Spuds feature in two of Brits' three favourite meals FOOD FOR THOUGHT Potatoes 'increase your risk of type 2 diabetes by 20%' – but it all depends how you cook them Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) POTATOES are a British kitchen staple but cooking them a certain way might raise your risk of diabetes, a study has warned. Researchers at Harvard University in the US said 'not all carbs are created equal' and the way you prepare food is key. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Potatoes might be linked to type 2 diabetes (stock image) Credit: Alamy Their study of more than 200,000 people found those who ate three or more servings of French fries per week were 20 per cent more likely to have type 2 diabetes. The condition affects four million Brits and is linked to excess weight and sugary diets. Results showed that boiling potatoes, mashing them or having jacket potatoes was not linked to the same risk. But diabetes was even less likely in people who ate more grains, such as pasta and bread, than spuds. Read more on healthy eating FOOD FOR THOUGHT Fizzy pop, ice cream & instant noodles could up risk of LUNG cancer by 41% Spuds are one of UK's favourite foods YouGov polling shows chips are Brits' second favourite food, behind only roast chicken, and fish and chips ranks third. Luckily mashed potato – not linked to diabetes in the study – ranks sixth. Harvard study author Professor Walter Willett said: 'Not all carbs – or even all potatoes – are created equal. 'The distinction is crucial when it comes to shaping effective dietary guidelines. 'The public health message here is simply that small changes in our daily diet can have an important impact on risk of type 2 diabetes. 'Limiting potatoes, and especially limiting French fries, and choosing healthy, whole grain sources of carbohydrate could help lower the risk.' Diabetes symptoms and the signs of all types of diabetes The NHS says people can reduce their chances of type 2 diabetes by staying slim, eating healthily and doing regular exercise. Separate research by the University of Cambridge has found that basic healthy eating can reduce the risk of diabetes across all groups of people. The analysis included 826,000 people across 33 studies on three different diets. They included the Mediterranean, the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI) and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (Dash) diets. Researchers suggest the eating habits, all of which place a focus on consuming more fruits, vegetables and whole grains, 'can be promoted across all populations'.
Scottish Sun
10 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Ten benefits worth £12k pensioners can claim this month including free TV licence and council tax – are you missing out?
PENSIONERS can get access to 10 benefits and freebies that could save them a whopping £12,700 a year. They include everything from free TV licences and NHS prescriptions to benefits such as Pension Credit. Advertisement 1 Pensioners can potentially get a huge £12,700 worth of freebies and benefits Credit: Getty The Sun has put together a list all the things you could claim and how much you can save... Pension Credit - £3,900 a year This benefit is available for pensioners on lower earnings. Pension Credit becomes available whenever you are able to start claiming your pension. The amount you can get depends on how much you've earned and your income. Advertisement But the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) says the average amount given out is a huge £3,900 a year. Free TV licence - save £174.50 Everyone who watches live TV is expected to pay the licence fee annually. It currently comes to £174.50 a year. However, if you're over the age of 75 and claim Pension Credit, you won't have to pay. Advertisement You can also get a discount if you're visually impaired. How to Qualify for Free or Discounted Council Tax! Free prescriptions and eye tests - save £139.50 You won't need to be claiming Pension Credit to get free NHS prescriptions. Anyone over the age of 60 in England, Scotland or Wales can get their prescriptions for free. If you're buying your prescription regularly and using an annual prepayment certificate this can cost up to £114.50 - so you'll make a huge saving by getting your prescription for free. Advertisement Over-60s are also entitled to a free eye test every two years. This can save you £25 each time. All you need to do is book your appointment as normal and inform members of staff that you are eligible for a free test. Discounted broadband - save £142.92 People who claim Pension Credit are often eligible for cheaper broadband. Advertisement The cheapest plans available to pensioners cost just £14.99 a month, compared to the average cost of £26.90. Over a year, this means you could save a staggering £142.92. Winter Fuel Payment - up to £300 Millions of pensioners are set to get a Winter Fuel Payment worth up to £300 this year. The payment is being made to those with an income of or below £35,000 this winter. Advertisement A person needs to have reached state pension age by September 21 to be eligible for a payment. People aged up to 80 will receive a payment worth £200 while those aged 81 or over will get £300. Attendance Allowance - up to £5,741 a year Attendance Allowance is a benefit paid out to people over state pension age who need someone to help look after them. To qualify for the benefit you must have a disability or illness that requires you to be looked after, and you must have needed help for at least six months. Advertisement It's paid at two different rates depending on how much help you need. You get a lower rate of £73.90 a week, or £3,843 a year, if you need help either in the day or at night. The higher rate of £110.40 a week, or £5,741 a year, is if you need help at both day and night. The payment is not affected by how much your income is. Advertisement Council tax reduction - save £2,171 Some pensioners can claim a discount on their council tax bills. But the amount of reduction you can get will depend on factors like your age, income, savings and the benefits you receive. You can usually claim for a council tax reduction if you receive benefits like Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payments and Carer's Allowance. Plus, those that receive the Guarantee part of Pension Credit may be exempt from paying council tax entirely. Advertisement If you receive Pension Credit, but not the Guarantee part, you may still be able to reduce your bill if you're on a low income and have less that £16,000 in savings. The average Band D Council Tax set by local authorities in England currently stands at £2,171 - so you could end up saving a huge amount. Free passports - save £94.50 Passports are offered for free by the Home Office to anyone born before September 2, 1929. That means most people who are eligible for the discount are in their late 90s. Advertisement But those who are can save £94.50. Cold Weather Payment - £25 Older people receiving Pension Credit can get Cold Weather Payments when temperatures drop. You'll get if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, 0C or below over seven consecutive days. You will get £25 for each seven-day period of very cold weather. Advertisement If you're eligible you'll get the payments automatically. Discounted days out - save £37 Pensioners are entitled to special discounts on certain days out. The National Trust and English Heritage both offer discounts for seniors. If you've been a National Trust member for at least three consecutive years and you're aged 60 or over, this can get you 25% off your subscription. Advertisement It means you'll pay £72 rather than £96 a year, saving you £24. People aged 65 or over will pay £69 a year for English Heritage membership, versus £82 for most adults. That would save you £13 a year. You can also save on Interrail passes - which let you travel around Europe - by getting 10% off. Advertisement Cinemas and museums also offer cheaper tickets too. Since the amount that you save is dependent on the days out you prefer, the possibilities are endless.
Scotsman
12 hours ago
- Scotsman
Hip Dysplasia Dogs: Here are the 10 breeds of adorable dog prone to the joint condition
A huge number of us decided to welcome new puppies into our homes over the last few years – according to Kennel Club figures dog ownership has soared to record levels and around one-in-three homes now has at least one pooch. There are a whopping 221 different breeds of pedigree dog to choose from, alongside numerous crossbreeds, so there's plenty of thinking to do before you select your family's latest addition. There's even academic guidance to seek out, with Psychologist Stanley Coren's book 'The Intelligence of Dogs' ranking breeds by instincts, obedience, and the ability to adapt. Another thing to take into consideration is that some breeds are prone to particular health issues. One common canine disorder is hip dysplasia – when the dog's hip ball and socket joint doesn't fit or develop properly, causing it to rub and grind instead of sliding smoothly. The condition results in the deterioration of the hip over time, causing pain and drastically reduce a dog's quality of life. Here are the 10 least breeds of dog genetically predisposed to suffering hip dysplasia, according to the American Kennel Club, along with more information about the condition. For all the latest dog news, chat, advice and information, join our Scotsdog Facebook group here Read more: 1 . Saint Bernard The Saint Bernard is prone to a range of joint degenerative disorders due to its huge size. Keeping a dog at a healthy weight is one of the best ways to minimise the risk of developing such issues. Photo: Canva/Getty Images Photo Sales 2 . German Shepherd Larger dogs are generally more likely to develop hip dysplasia, with the German Shepherd being a case in point. They are most likely to suffer from the condition later in life, at around the age of seven. Photo: Canva/Getty Images Photo Sales 3 . Labrador Retriever A combination of a large frame, genetic predisposition and weight distribution mean that lovable Labrador Retrievers commonly develop hip dysplasia. Symptoms of the condition include walking with a limp, lack of interest in exercise, reluctance to climb stairs, and a clicking sound when walking. Photo: Canva/Getty Images Photo Sales 4 . Golden Retriever Golden Retrievers share the Labrador Retriever's many positive attributes, but also the tendency to have hip problems. Some dogs show signs of the issue when they are just months old, while others show no problems until they are much older. Photo: Canva/Getty Images Photo Sales Related topics: Facebook
