Aug 5, 2026
Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide, and what we eat can significantly influence our risk of developing it.
Western-style diets, typically high in fat and meat but low in fiber, have long been linked to a higher risk of the disease. But exactly how this pattern of eating may encourage tumors to develop has remained unclear.
A new study published in the journal Gut may have taken us a step closer to understanding the exact mechanism at play.
The study suggests that certain gut bacteria in the depths of our bowels, sustained by Western-style diets, may produce a substance that promotes tumor growth.
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For now, the findings reinforce existing dietary advice rather than establishing a new treatment: Diets rich in fiber, fruit, vegetables, and whole grains, and lower in processed and red meat, are associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer.
The study was published in Gut.
https://www.sciencealert.com/gut-bacteria-may-reveal-how-a-western-diet-fuels-colon-cancer