Unhealthy snacking adversely affects health in multiple ways. With unhealthy snacking, the chances of falling prey to colorectal cancer increase manifold, especially if you are genetically susceptible to the cancer. The harmful ingredients and preservatives present in snacks can damage your digestive tract.
Recently, a study revealed that individuals suffering from the Lynch syndrome should avoid consuming unhealthy snacks at every cost. Lynch syndrome is a genetic condition characterized by high chances of suffering from endometrial, colorectal and other carcinomas.In Lynch syndrome, the genes capable of repairing DNA inside cells become defunct. It is a genetically transmitted disorder and therefore people at all age are at the risk of being affected.
The scientists at the Wageningen University in the Netherlands enrolled 486 people with Lynch syndrome. The volunteers were asked to fill a questionnaire containing questions pertaining to dietary consumption of about 183 food articles such as fast food, chips and sweets. The study was published in the journal, Cancer.
The volunteers were divided in to two groups- the lowest unhealthy snacking group and the highest unhealthy snacking group.
After a follow up of 20 months, around 58 patients were diagnosed with colorectal polyp and 13 of them were in an advanced stage.
The researchers discovered that those who consumed more unhealthy food had greater probability of developing colorectal cancer as compared to those who took less unhealthy snacks.
Mr. Botma further said, “Unfortunately, this does not mean that eating a diet low in snack foods will prevent any polyps from developing, but it might mean that those Lynch syndrome patients who eat a lot of snack foods might have more polyps than if they ate less snack foods.”
Source-Medindia