A new study shows that seed oils used in cooking and processed foods may be linked to an increased risk of colon cancer.

“Colorectal cancer, the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, may be fueled by the food on our plates,” the University of South Florida Health and Tampa General Hospital Cancer Institute said in a recent press release. “Researchers at USF Health and Tampa General Hospital Cancer Institute have uncovered a potential link between the Western diet – dominated by ultra-processed foods and unhealthy oils –and the chronic inflammation that drives tumor growth.”

According to Fox News, the study was published after researchers evaluated 162 tumor samples from colon cancer patients. The recent press release noted that researchers discovered “an excess number” of molecules that lead to inflammation and “a shortage” of molecules that can help the body heal.

“It is well-known that patients with unhealthy diets have increased inflammation in their bodies,” Dr. Timothy Yeatman, the study author, said.

“We now see this inflammation in the colon tumors themselves, and cancer is like a chronic wound that won’t heal,” Yeatman added. “If your body is living off daily ultra-processed foods, its ability to heal that wound decreases due to the inflammation and suppression of the immune system that ultimately allows the cancer to grow.”

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Yeatman warned that the colon cancer study shows the potential damage the typical American diet can cause to the body. In addition to concerns regarding seed oils, Yeatman pointed to sugars, ultra-processed foods and chemicals, and saturated fats as other negative components of an American’s diet.

Yeatman added, “A human’s immune system can be extremely powerful and drastically impact the tumor microenvironment, which is great if harnessed correctly for health and wellness — but not if it’s suppressed by inflammatory lipids from processed foods.”

During a recent appearance on Fox News, Dr. Marc Siegel, a Fox News senior medical analyst, explained that seed oils have more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 fatty acids. Siegel noted that while omega-3 fatty acids decrease inflammation, omega-6 fatty acids increase inflammation.

“I want everybody out there to know that inflammation in the gut is what you don’t want because that could be a precursor to colon cancer,” Siegel said.

Fox News host Ainsley Earhardt noted that the university’s recent study could reveal one of the contributing factors to a surge in colon cancer. She said, “We’re seeing an increase-500% among children ages 10 to 14, 333% among teenagers age 15 to 19, and 185% among young adults ages 20 to 24.”

In light of the recent study, Yeatman and the University of South Florida recommended that cancer should be treated with “resolution medicine” that incorporates “healthy, unprocessed foods rich with omega-3 fatty acids and derivatives of fish oil.”