Research

Macro partitioning

High intake of red and processed meats is positively associated with an increased risk of colon cancer in women, whereas high fiber intake is associated with a decreased risk.

To lower your risk of colon cancer, limit your consumption of red and processed meats (like beef, pork, bacon, and sausage) and increase your intake of dietary fiber from vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. This study suggests that the type of food matters significantly for long-term gut health.

GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
We found a positive relation between intake of red and processed meats and risk of colon cancer... The inverse relation between fiber intake and risk of colon cancer was also significant.
Walter C. Willett et al. · New England Journal of Medicine · 1990

Why this rating

Prospective cohort study with large sample size (Nurses' Health Study) and long follow-up, though observational design limits causal inference compared to RCTs.

Source

Relation of Meat, Fat, and Fiber Intake to the Risk of Colon Cancer in a Prospective Study among Women

Walter C. Willett et al. · New England Journal of Medicine · 1990

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