According to a 30-year study, there was a 13% increased risk of premature death for those who habitually ate ultra-processed meats.
A recent Harvard University study that followed 1,14,000 participants for more than 30 years brought attention to the dangers of eating ultra-processed foods (UPF).
The majority of ultra-processed foods are associated with a slightly increased risk of death when consumed in larger quantities; the highest correlations are found in ready-to-eat meat, poultry, and fish products; sugary drinks; dairy-based sweets; and highly processed breakfast dishes.
Foods that include additions and components that are uncommon in home kitchens, such as artificial sweeteners, colors, and preservatives, are considered ultra-processed. These are foods that are low in fiber and minerals and high in saturated fats.
Unsettling results from the study, which was published in the BMJ, showed that individuals who habitually ate ultra-processed meats had a 13% increased risk of dying young throughout the study period.
Furthermore, there was a 9% higher chance of dying young for people whose diets were heavy in sugar-filled and artificially sweetened beverages.
Diets heavy in ultra-processed foods were linked to a 4% increased risk of death overall.
The researchers found 48,193 deaths over an average follow-up period of 34 years. Of these, 13,557 deaths were attributable to cancer, 11,416 deaths to heart disease, 3,926 deaths to respiratory disorders, and 6,343 deaths to neurological diseases.
Consuming too much ultra-processed food, particularly some varieties, might be harmful to your health. There is a connection between an increased risk of death and ready-to-eat meats, sweetened drinks, desserts, and morning items. Therefore, it’s advisable to restrict certain meals in your diet.
“The results support limiting consumption of certain ultra-processed food types for long-term health,” the researchers concluded. It is necessary to do additional research to validate our findings in different groups and enhance the categorization of ultra-processed foods.”
UPFs have also been connected in the past to a number of health concerns, including as cancer, mental health disorders, type 2 diabetes, and early mortality. In Western nations, UPFs currently account for up to half of the average person’s daily food intake, representing a sizable percentage of their diet.
