Overview
- USC investigators presented preliminary data at a major cancer meeting showing patients diagnosed with lung cancer by age 50 reported higher quality diets than the U.S. average.
- The team used the Healthy Eating Index, a 1–100 score of overall diet quality, and found an average score of 65 in patients compared with 57 nationally.
- Authors hypothesize that pesticide residues on conventionally grown fruits, vegetables, and grains could help explain the counterintuitive pattern.
- The study is small with 187 participants, is not yet peer reviewed, and did not measure pesticide exposure in patients, relying instead on published residue levels for food groups.
- Independent experts urge people not to cut produce intake, citing strong evidence that plant-rich diets lower disease risk, and suggest simple steps like rinsing fruits and vegetables.