Another Reason to Avoid Processed Carbs

Sugar and other processed carbohydrates may be tied to a raised risk of cancer, a new study found.

In fact, the New York University researchers behind this study found that participants who regularly consumed sugary drinks and highly processed lunch foods were three times more likely than those who did not to develop prostate cancer.

On the flip side, however, participants who regularly ate healthy carbs — like legumes and other vegetables — were much less likely to develop breast cancer.

For this study, these researchers looked at 3,100 patients' health records and diet surveys over a span of several decades.

This study only shows a link between processed carbs and cancer — not a definitive cause-and-effect relationship. Patients should speak to a doctor about a healthy, balanced diet.

This study was presented at the Experimental Biology 2016 conference. Research presented at conferences may not have been peer-reviewed.

Information on funding sources and conflicts of interest was not available at the time of publication.