Mia Williams
Experts claim to be seeing a worrying increase in cancer cases among young people and are suggesting they all have one thing in common.
Doctors have warned that cancer cases in young people under the age of 45 are dramatically on the rise.
Dr Nicholas DeVito, North Carolina's Duke University oncologist, has claimed to have witnessed a massive shift in how many people are coming to his clinic with symptoms that are resulting in a diagnosis.
Around 75 percent of food consumed by people in the US is considered to be ultra-processed - which doctors are saying could be responsible.
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They are full of additives and potentially harmful ingredients, and studies have shown that there could be a connection between these and multiple conditions - including cancer.
Writing for STAT News, he said: "The desire to protect Americans from substances that cause cancer and other diseases should transcend party affiliation and political motivation to overcome industrial lobbying efforts.
"This was possible with tobacco, and it is possible with food."
He noted how important it is to encourage people not to eat for convenience, and hopes for a push in making meals from natural ingredients at home.
He explained: "To be sure, this will require Americans to make different choices about what they eat to prioritize their health over the profit of corporations and, at times, even their own convenience."
Other studies show that ultra-processed foods can also alter the stomach microbiome, which is the collection of good bacteria we have.
They are also proven to cause chronic inflammation, contributing to an increased risk of cancer.
On a global scale, the number of cancer cases in young people has grown by a massive 79 percent, with deaths increasing by 28 percent.
Around 40 percent of cancers in the US are believed to be caused by factors that can be changed, according to the American Cancer Society.
Dr DeVito added: "Food can play a major role here, making one’s knowledge of ingredients, the American food system, and how what they eat affects their body critical for decreasing cancer incidence."
The NHS says: "Sometimes the term ultra-processed foods (UPF) is used to refer to some processed foods and drinks.
"These have been through more processing than other foods.
"Ultra-processed foods often include ingredients you would not usually have at home, such as preservatives, sweeteners and emulsifiers."