What you eat may impact your lung cancer risk, according to a new study

There are many reasons to avoid ultraprocessed foods , including a link with heart disease, diabetes and obesity, but an increased risk of lung cancer may be yet another, a new study suggests.

Ultraprocessed foods contain ingredients “never or rarely used in kitchens, or classes of additives whose function is to make the final product palatable or more appealing,” according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations .

Those ingredients — found in items such as sodas, chips, packaged soups, chicken nuggets and ice cream — can include preservatives against mold or bacteria, artificial coloring, emulsifiers to stop separation, and added or altered sugar, salt and fats to make food more appealing.

People who eat the most ultraprocessed foods are 41% more likely