What diseases are hyper-processed foods killing us from?
Ultra-processed foods, including packaged baked goods and snacks, carbonated beverages, sugary cereals, and ready-to-eat or prepared meals, undergo multiple industrial processes and often contain colors, emulsifiers, flavors, and other additives.
These products also tend to be high in added sugar, fat and/or salt, but low in vitamins and fiber.
Major study finds direct and harmful health effects such as cancers, heart disease and premature deaths.
Ultra- processed foods are directly linked to 32 harmful health effects, including a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, mental health problems and premature death.
What are the dangers of highly processed foods?
The findings from the first comprehensive review of the evidence collected come amid a rapid rise in global consumption of so-called UPFs, ultra-processed foods including cereals, protein bars, fizzy drinks, ready meals and fast food.
In the UK and US, more than half of the average diet now consists of ultra-processed foods. For some, especially younger, poorer or underserved consumers, a typical diet includes up to 80% UPF.
Published evidence shows that a diet high in UPF can be harmful for many areas of health. The results of the survey of nearly 10 million people underscore the need for measures aimed at reducing UPF exposure, the researchers said.
The review involved experts from a number of leading institutions, including the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health in the US, the University of Sydney and the Sorbonne University in France.
The scientists came to the following conclusion: The consumption of highly processed foods is associated with 32 health parameters that lead to cancer but also to other serious respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, metabolic, mental diseases, many of which lead to death.
“Greater exposure to highly processed foods is associated with a higher risk of adverse health outcomes” they explain and point out that the research data and their evaluation lead to the need to use measures in the population in the direction of reducing ultra-processed foods, based on public health.
Researchers conducted a comprehensive review of 45 different pooled meta-analyses from 14 studies linking UPFs with adverse health effects.
All studies were published in the past three years and involved 9.9 million people. None of them were funded by companies involved in UPF production.
Estimates of exposure to ultra-processed foods were derived from a combination of food frequency questionnaires, 24-hour dietary recall, and dietary history and were measured as higher versus lower consumption, additional servings per day, or 10% increase.
The findings indicate a clear correlation between increased consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and a heightened risk of 32 different negative health outcomes. Specifically, a higher consumption of UPFs was linked to approximately a 50% elevated risk of mortality due to cardiovascular diseases, a 48% to 53% increased risk for anxiety and common mental disorders, and a 12% greater risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
Additionally, consuming higher amounts of UPFs was associated with a 21% increased risk of mortality from any cause, a 40% to 66% heightened risk of death related to heart disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and sleep disturbances, and a 22% greater risk of depression. The study also found evidence linking UPF intake with asthma, gastrointestinal issues, certain types of cancer, and cardiometabolic risk factors, including elevated blood fats and reduced levels of beneficial cholesterol.
Dr. Chris van Tulle ken, associate professor at University College London, said the findings were “absolutely consistent” with a “vast number of independent studies that clearly link a diet high in UPF with multiple adverse health effects, including premature death.