What the alarming new bowel cancer theory means for Australia – as the ‘red flag’ ingredient blamed for the rise in cases in the US

A shocking new theory about the rise in bowel cancer rates has emerged in the US, but one of the suspected causes doesn’t affect Australians.

American gastroenterologist Dr. Maria Abreu has diagnosed colon cancer in an increasing number of young people in America.

Obesity, a sedentary lifestyle and ultra-processed foods have long been blamed for the rise of the disease, which previously only afflicted the elderly.

Dr. However, Abreu said she sees people in their 20s and 30s who eat a good diet and stay fit develop the condition.

Dr. Abreu, who is also president of the American Gastroenterological Association, told DailyMail.com that she believes two additives could be behind the rise in cases.

The first is high fructose corn syrup, a liquid sweetener unique to the US but not used in Australia.

The other ingredient is emulsifiers, which are used to give foods a creamy texture and are found in healthy foods such as low-fat yogurt, cottage cheese and peanut butter.

Fortunately, high fructose corn syrup is not used in Australia and the country’s leading independent cancer authority, Cancer Council Australia, says dietary sugar is not a known risk factor for cancer.

The overconsumption of sugar can lead to weight gain and obesity, increasing the risk of developing colon cancer and other cancers, experts warn.

Cancer Council Australia advises Australians to reduce their risk of bowel cancer by avoiding foods high in sugar and low in nutritional value, including chocolate, soft drinks, lollipops, cakes and cookies

However, they warn that overconsumption of sugar, especially sugar-sweetened drinks and foods high in sugar and low in nutritional value, including soft drinks, chocolate, lollipops, cakes and cookies, can lead to weight gain and obesity, increasing the risk of developing intestinal and other diseases increases. cancers.

These include cancers of the kidneys, pancreas, esophagus and endometrium (uterus), as well as breast cancer in postmenopausal women.

To avoid becoming overweight or obese, Cancer Council Australia recommends eating nutritious foods such as vegetables, fruits and whole grains and drink plenty of water.

In 2022, research shows The Daffodil Centera joint venture between Cancer Council NSW and the University of Sydney, found that the rate of obesity-related cancers in Australia almost quadrupled between 1983 and 2017.

The organization estimates that 15,542 people will be diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2024, with the average age at diagnosis being 69 years old.

Bowel cancer is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia, and it is estimated that one in twenty people will be diagnosed with it by the time they are 85.

Other causes of colon cancer include a low-fiber diet, high consumption of red meat, especially processed meat, smoking, alcohol consumption, inherited genetic risks and family history, inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease, polyps and having a previous diagnosis of colon cancer . cancer.

As part of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, Australians aged 50 to 74 receive a bowel screening every two years.

President of the American Gastroenterological Association Dr. Maria Abreu (pictured) believes two food additives are leading to the alarming increase in colon cancer cases in the US.

People between the ages of 45 and 49 can also request a free screening kit to be sent to them.

One of the suspected causes of the increase in colon cancer in the US is high fructose corn syrup, which was introduced in the 1970s as an attempt to stabilize food prices.

It became cheaper to produce than sugar, so it ended up everywhere.

High fructose corn syrup is most commonly associated with junk foods such as soft drinks and desserts, but it has also found its way into more “healthy” foods such as salad dressings, oatmeal, fruit juices, cereals and breads.

Dr. Abreu said these ingredients wreak havoc on the microbiome, a network of healthy bacteria in our gut.

When this delicate ecosystem becomes damaged, it reduces our ability to protect the digestive tract from pathogens that irritate our cells and cause inflammation.

Over time, that inflammation can cause the formation of premalignant cells, allowing them to multiply rapidly, a process called proliferation.