Ultra-Processed Foods & Prostate Cancer Risk

What New Research Says About Nutrition and Prostate Health

What we eat is an important part of our overall health — and researchers are continuing to learn more about how our everyday food choices may relate to prostate cancer risk.

A recent study led by researchers at Florida Atlantic University examined dietary information from more than 17,000 men across the United States. The findings suggest that men who consumed higher amounts of ultra-processed foods may have a greater risk of prostate cancer.

The research does not mean that eating ultra-processed foods causes prostate cancer. But it adds to a growing conversation about nutrition, prevention, and the small choices men and families can make to support better long-term health.

Why This Matters

Prostate cancer remains one of the most common cancers among men in the United States. While age, family history, race, and genetics are among the most established risk factors, researchers are also studying how lifestyle and nutrition may influence prostate health.

That's important because food is part of our everyday lives.

According to Florida Atlantic University, ultra-processed foods now account for nearly 60% of the calories consumed by U.S. adults. These foods are often convenient, affordable, widely available, and designed to last longer on the shelf.

For many families, they're simply part of the normal grocery cart.

The new research raises an important question: Could regularly eating large amounts of these foods also have implications for prostate health?

Researchers are working to better understand that connection.

What Are Ultra-Processed Foods?

Almost everything we eat undergoes some type of processing. Processing itself doesn't automatically make a food unhealthy.

Frozen vegetables, canned beans, whole-grain bread, and plain yogurt, for example, may all be processed to some degree.

Ultra-processed foods are different.

They typically undergo extensive industrial processing and may contain combinations of refined sugars, fats, starches, sodium, preservatives, flavorings, emulsifiers, sweeteners, and other additives that aren't commonly used when preparing meals at home.

Common examples may include:

• Soft drinks and sugary beverages

• Packaged chips and snack foods

• Sugary breakfast cereals

• Packaged cookies, cakes, and desserts

• Some processed meats

• Certain frozen or ready-to-eat meals

• Many packaged convenience foods

The concern isn't necessarily an occasional soda, snack, or frozen meal.

Researchers are looking at what happens when ultra-processed foods make up a large percentage of a person's overall diet.

What the Research Found

Researchers from Florida Atlantic University's Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine analyzed information from 17,024 U.S. men age 18 and older who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2003 and 2023.

Participants provided information about what they ate, allowing researchers to estimate the percentage of their daily calories that came from ultra-processed foods.

The men were then divided into groups based on how much ultra-processed food they consumed.

Researchers found that men in higher-consumption groups had a greater risk of prostate cancer compared with men who consumed the lowest amounts.

After accounting for several factors — including age, race and ethnicity, smoking, and poverty status — researchers reported an increased prostate cancer risk of approximately 24% to 31% among certain higher-consumption groups.

The findings suggest there may be a meaningful relationship between dietary patterns and prostate cancer risk that deserves further study.

What the Study Does — and Doesn't — Tell Us

Research headlines can sometimes make findings sound more certain than they actually are.

That's why this distinction matters:

An association is not the same as a cause.

The study found a relationship between higher consumption of ultra-processed foods and prostate cancer risk.

It did not prove that ultra-processed foods cause prostate cancer.

Researchers cannot say that eating a particular food will cause someone to develop prostate cancer. They also cannot say that avoiding ultra-processed foods will prevent the disease.

Prostate cancer is complex.

Age, genetics, family history, race, environmental factors, overall health, lifestyle, and other factors may all contribute to an individual's risk.

The researchers have called for additional studies to better understand the relationship between ultra-processed foods and prostate cancer.

For now, the findings give men another reason to pay attention to the overall quality of their diet.

Why Could These Foods Matter?

Researchers are continuing to study exactly why diets high in ultra-processed foods may be associated with certain health conditions.

Several possibilities are being explored.

Chronic Inflammation

Researchers are studying how certain dietary patterns may contribute to long-term inflammation within the body.

Chronic inflammation has been associated with numerous diseases, including some forms of cancer.

Metabolic Health

Many ultra-processed foods are high in added sugars, unhealthy fats, refined carbohydrates, and calories while providing fewer nutrients and less fiber.

Diets dominated by these foods may contribute to obesity and poor metabolic health.

Oxidative Stress

Researchers are also investigating whether dietary patterns may contribute to oxidative stress — an imbalance that can damage cells over time.

Gut Health

Scientists continue to discover how important the gut microbiome is to overall health.

Diet can influence the microorganisms living in our digestive system, which may affect inflammation, metabolism, and immune function.

These are areas of ongoing research. None of them prove that ultra-processed foods directly cause prostate cancer.

Nutrition Doesn't Have to Be Complicated

Healthy eating doesn't require perfection.

It also doesn't mean eliminating every processed food from your kitchen.

A more realistic goal is to look at your overall eating pattern and find opportunities to include more nutrient-rich and minimally processed foods.

That can include:

• Fruits and vegetables

• Beans and legumes

• Whole grains

• Nuts and seeds

• Fish

• Lean proteins

• Minimally processed foods

• Water instead of beverages high in added sugar

Small changes can make healthier eating feel much more manageable.

Drink water with one additional meal.

Add a vegetable to dinner.

Choose fruit instead of a packaged snack occasionally.

Cook one more meal at home each week when possible.

Read food labels and become more aware of what's in the foods you regularly eat.

You don't have to change everything at once.

Access Matters

It's easy to tell someone to "eat healthier."

The reality can be much more complicated.

Cost, transportation, work schedules, family responsibilities, grocery store availability, and access to fresh foods can all influence what people eat.

Ultra-processed foods are often inexpensive, convenient, readily available, and able to remain on a shelf much longer than fresh foods.

For families facing limited food choices, those things matter.

The FAU researchers also highlighted the importance of making nutritious foods more accessible and affordable, particularly for communities facing economic and health disparities.

Improving nutrition therefore isn't only about telling people to make better choices.

It's also about creating healthier communities where better choices are actually available.

Nutrition Is One Part of Prostate Health

Nutrition matters.

But it is only one part of the prostate health conversation.

Some of the most significant prostate cancer risk factors cannot be changed.

Age

Prostate cancer risk increases as men get older.

Family History

Men with a father, brother, or other close relative who has had prostate cancer may face increased risk.

Race

Black men experience a disproportionately high burden of prostate cancer and should talk with their healthcare providers about their individual risk and when screening may be appropriate.

Genetics

Certain inherited genetic changes may also increase prostate cancer risk.

Understanding these factors can help men have more informed conversations with their healthcare providers.

Healthy Eating Doesn't Replace Screening

This may be the most important takeaway.

A healthy lifestyle does not eliminate the possibility of developing prostate cancer.

A man can eat well, exercise regularly, maintain a healthy weight, and still be diagnosed with the disease.

That's why nutrition should never replace regular healthcare or conversations about prostate cancer screening.

Depending on your age, family history, race, and other individual risk factors, your healthcare provider may recommend discussing a PSA blood test or other appropriate screening options.

Nutrition can support your health.

Screening can help identify prostate cancer before symptoms appear.

Both deserve a place in the conversation.

Start With One Better Choice

Healthier living doesn't have to begin with a complete lifestyle overhaul.

Start small.

Ask yourself:

What's one thing I can do differently this week?

Maybe it's drinking more water.

Maybe it's adding vegetables to another meal.

Maybe it's looking at the ingredient list on something you eat every day.

Maybe it's replacing one packaged snack with fruit.

Or maybe the first step isn't about food at all.

Maybe it's finally scheduling that doctor's appointment or asking about your prostate cancer risk.

One choice can lead to another.

And awareness is often where action begins.

Talk With Your Healthcare Provider

Nutrition needs are different for everyone.

A healthcare professional or registered dietitian can help you understand what dietary choices may be appropriate based on your health, medications, medical history, and individual needs.

Your healthcare provider can also help you understand your personal prostate cancer risk and determine when conversations about screening should begin.

Consider asking:

• What are my personal risk factors for prostate cancer?

• When should I begin discussing prostate cancer screening?

• What changes could I make to improve my overall nutrition?

• Are there foods I should eat more or less often based on my health?

• Would meeting with a registered dietitian be helpful for me?

You don't have to have all the answers before starting the conversation.

Sometimes the most important thing is simply asking the first question.

Curt's Perspective

Taking care of your health isn't about being perfect. It's about paying attention.

What we eat is one more opportunity to take an active role in our health.

Know what's on your plate.

Know your family history.

Know your risk.

Know your numbers.

And most importantly, don't wait until something feels wrong before you start having conversations about your health.

Small choices matter.

So do early conversations.

The Bottom Line

Researchers still have more to learn about ultra-processed foods and prostate cancer.

This study doesn't tell us that one food causes cancer or that changing your diet can prevent prostate cancer.

What it does tell us is that nutrition deserves a place in the conversation about men's health.

Choose healthier foods when you can.

Understand your personal risk.

Stay connected to regular healthcare.

Talk with your healthcare provider about prostate cancer screening.

And encourage the men you care about to do the same.

Because protecting our health isn't about one perfect decision.

It's about making informed decisions — one conversation, one choice, and one step at a time.

Source

Florida Atlantic University — Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine
Ultra-Processed Foods Linked to Notably Higher Prostate Cancer Risks
August 12, 2026

Research published in The American Journal of Medicine.

Medical Disclaimer

This resource is provided for educational and awareness purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or replace professional medical advice. Talk with a qualified healthcare professional about your individual nutritional needs, prostate cancer risk, and appropriate screening decisions.