A gut health and cancer researcher shared the foods she eats to lower her disease risk

• Dr. Susan Bullman researches the relationship between gut health and cancer. • She said eating too many ultra-processed foods can promote tumor growth. • She shared the fiber-rich, high-protein whole foods she eats to reduce her cancer risk.

As colon cancer rates continue to rise in people under 45, researchers like Dr. Susan Bullman are studying the role gut health may play in the uptick.

"These individuals are often very healthy — they're exercising, they're physically fit," Bullman, a researcher and associate professor at MD Anderson Cancer Center, told Business Insider.

In many cases, these patients also follow nutrient-rich diets, as Business Insider previously reported.

Still, these days it can be tough to hit your daily recommended amount of fiber and vitamins, given the o