The findings, published in the international journal Cancer Causes & Control, mark the first large-scale meta-analysis on diet and colorectal cancer risk focused on Asian populations. Meat, Processed Foods, and Alcohol Raise RiskThe study found a clear association between meat-heavy diets and colorectal cancer. White meats like chicken and turkey were not broadly linked to colorectal cancer but were associated with a 40 percent higher risk of rectal cancer specifically. Consuming more than 30 grams of alcohol per day — equivalent to more than 500 milliliters of beer or three shots of soju — raised colorectal cancer risk by 64 percent. Researchers warned that the rapid rise of colorectal cancer among young Koreans may continue unless broader lifestyle changes occur.