Eating many fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is often advised for good health. It can lower the chance of many diseases, including some cancers.
Unexpected Findings
Scientists from USC Norris Cancer Center found something surprising. Young adults who do not smoke and eat very healthy foods may have a higher chance of getting lung cancer.
"We saw that younger non‑smokers who ate more healthy foods were more likely to develop lung cancer," said Dr. Jorge Nieva, the study’s lead researcher.
Possible Link to Pesticides
The team thinks the reason could be chemicals called pesticides. These are used on many non‑organic fruits, vegetables, and grains. Pesticide residues can stay on the food we eat.
Workers who handle pesticides regularly often have higher lung‑cancer rates, which supports the idea that pesticide exposure might play a role.
Women Are More Affected
In the study, young women who never smoked were diagnosed with lung cancer more often than men of the same age. The women also ate more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains than the men.
Rising Cases in Young Non‑Smokers
Historically, lung cancer was linked to older adults, smokers, and men. While smoking has dropped, lung‑cancer cases are climbing among non‑smokers under 50, especially women.
To learn more, researchers created the Epidemiology of Young Lung Cancer Project. They examined 187 patients diagnosed before age 50, collecting data on diet, background, and health history.
Healthier Diet Scores
Participants’ diets were rated with the Healthy Eating Index (HEI), a score from 1 to 100. The young, non‑smoking patients averaged a score of 65, higher than the national average of 57.
On average, they ate 4.3 servings of dark green vegetables and legumes and 3.9 servings of whole grains each day. The typical U.S. adult eats about 3.6 and 2.6 servings respectively.
What Comes Next?
More work is needed to prove a direct link between pesticides and lung cancer in young adults. Future studies will measure pesticide levels in blood or urine to see which chemicals might be most risky.
Dr. Nieva hopes this research will guide public‑health advice and lead to better prevention strategies.