Ultra-processed foods undergo multiple industrial processes and often contain colors, emulsifiers, flavors, and other additives. These food categories include packaged baked goods and snacks, carbonated beverages, sugary cereals, and ready-to-eat or heated products. These items are often low in vitamins and fiber and high in sugar, fat, and/or salt.
An international team of researchers from Australia, the US, France and Ireland found strong evidence that consuming more ultra-processed food is associated with a 50 percent higher risk of heart disease-related death, compared with a 48-53 percent higher risk. Is. Anxiety and general mental disorders, and a 12 percent higher risk of type 2 diabetes.
Published by the BMJ, the findings are based on a comprehensive review (a high-level evidence summary) of 45 separate pooled meta-analyses from 14 review articles involving nearly 10 million participants. None were funded by companies involved in the production of ultra-processed foods.
The team also found evidence that high ultra-processed food intake was associated with a 21 percent higher risk of death from any cause, with 40-66 percent of the deaths related to heart disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes and sleep problems. , and the risk of depression increased by 22 percent.
“These findings support needed mechanistic research and public health work that attempts to target and reduce consumption of ultra-processed foods for better population health,” said Melissa M. Lane, Associate Research Fellow at Deakin University, Australia. We do.”
“These include front-of-pack labels, limiting advertising and banning sales in or near schools and hospitals, and fiscal and other measures that restrict unprocessed or minimally processed foods and freshly prepared foods. Are. Making them accessible and cheaper than ultra-processed ones. Food ingredient.