A diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains has been considered for years one of the cornerstones of a healthy lifestyle. Clear recommendations from health organizations around the world repeatedly emphasize the importance of such a diet in preventing chronic diseases, including cancer.
However, a new study from the United States presents a more complex picture and raises difficult questions about one of the most fundamental principles in the field of nutrition. According to the findings, it may be that precisely within a certain population, a diet considered especially healthy is associated with an increased risk of a disease we would not expect to see in this context.
The study, presented at the annual conference of the American Association for Cancer Research, focused on young non-smokers under the age of 50. This is a group that until recently was considered to have a relatively low risk of the disease, but in recent years an increase in the number of cases among them has been recorded.
As part of the study, 187 patients diagnosed with lung cancer at a relatively young age were examined. The researchers collected data on their lifestyles, including dietary habits, smoking history and additional characteristics.
The common factor among the young patients: A healthy diet
The main result that surprised the researchers was that many of the patients adhered to a higher-than-average quality diet. In fact, when diet quality was measured using a standard index, it was found that their scores were higher compared to the general population.
In simple terms, these are people who ate more fruits, more vegetables and more whole grains than the average person, and nevertheless developed the disease.
This finding led the researchers to look for another explanation that is not related to the nutritional composition itself, but to environmental factors accompanying it. One of the main hypotheses raised was exposure to pesticides.
The problem: Pesticides in agricultural produce
According to the researchers, non-organic agricultural produce may contain pesticide residues at varying levels. When it comes to very high consumption of fruits, vegetables and grains, it is possible that cumulative exposure to these substances also increases.
This hypothesis is supported by data from other studies showing that agricultural workers who are regularly exposed to pesticides are at higher risk of developing lung cancer.
However, it is important to emphasize that in the current study, the actual levels of pesticides in the participants’ bodies were not measured. The researchers relied on general estimates of exposure levels according to the types of food consumed, so a direct causal link cannot be determined at this stage.
Another finding that stood out in the study is the gap between women and men. Among young non-smokers, women were found to be at higher risk of developing lung cancer compared to men of the same age. In addition, women in the study tended to consume more foods considered healthy.
The researchers note that there may be a combination of biological, hormonal and environmental factors here, but the issue still requires deeper examination.
The study also shows that the types of lung cancer detected among young people are biologically different from those that appear in older adults and smokers. This means that it may be a disease with a different mechanism, not necessarily related to the classic risk factors.
Being aware of food quality and its sources
Despite the surprising findings, the researchers emphasize that one should not conclude from them that a healthy diet is dangerous or that fruits and vegetables should be avoided. On the contrary, the health benefits of such a diet are well established in many studies.
The main conclusion at this stage is that there is a need to better understand the impact of environmental factors, particularly pesticides, on human health. The next stage of the research is expected to include direct testing of the levels of these substances in the body through blood or urine tests.
According to the researchers, a better understanding of the relationship between environmental exposure and disease may in the future help develop more precise recommendations for the public, and even reduce health risks.
Until then, the recommendation remains unchanged: Continue to eat a variety of foods, include fruits and vegetables in the daily diet, but also be aware of food quality and its sources.
The new study does not cancel the principles of healthy nutrition, but it does remind us that sometimes the picture is more complex, and that even within habits considered positive, there may be factors that have not yet been fully identified.
Source:
www.jpost.com
