BOSTON -- There is mounting evidence that eating lots red meats and refined breads is bad for our overall health. Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have found a link between a western style diet and colon cancer recurrence.

No matter how we slice it, research has shown that a western diet can lead to obesity. And a new study has found a strong link between a western diet and colon cancer. The results are not a shock to Carol Rainville. She has battled colon cancer twice as well as endometrial cancer.

“We grew up on a typical western diet. Did that play a part in developing colon cancer? Probably,” said Rainville, a cancer survivor.

That may be true, according to researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The study in the Journal of the American Medical Association tracked around 1,000 patients with colon cancer for five years. According to researchers, those who ate lots of red meat, refined grains, and desserts were three-and-a-half times more likely to have their cancer come back than those who ate a diet rich in fruits and vegetables.

“It increases people's levels of insulin, increases risk of diabetes, and growing research that increased insulin and growth factors related to insulin do affect cancer's development,” said the study’s lead author, Dr. Jeffrey Meyerhardt of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Researchers say you can improve your health by eating the right foods.

“Colon cancer is probably the best example where less red meat, increase of fruits and veggies, less fatty foods, and desserts do decrease your risk of getting colon cancer,” said Meyerhardt.

Rainville advocates a whole-foods diet not only as a cancer survivor, but as a doctor of naturopathic medicine. She has cut back on the amount of red meat in her diet.

“I feel better when I eat more fruits and vegetables, and I definitely go for the whole grains,” said Rainville.