A new review of the studies was conducted by Marissa Lane and her team involving millions of participants, it has provided worrying data regarding the consumption of ultra-processed food.
Ultra-processed foods consist of packaged snacks, carbonated soft drinks, instant noodles, and ready-made meals. In everyday language, they are known as ‘Junk Food’. These products are characterized as industrial formulations primarily made up of chemically modified substances. These substances are extracted from foods along with additives to enhance taste, texture, appearance, and durability, with minimal to no inclusion of whole foods.
The Study
They included 45 studies involving almost 10 million people. Researchers looked at the impact eating or drinking ultra-processed foods had on mortality, cancer, and mental, respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and metabolic health. ( High Carb Food That Are Good For Your Figure)
This umbrella review found consistent evidence of a higher risk of adverse health outcomes associated with junk food.
Direct connection with various health issues
There were direct connections between a higher intake of ultra-processed foods and deaths from heart disease. Other issues included common mental disorders, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. Ultra-processed foods were also associated with a higher risk of asthma, gastrointestinal issues, some cancers, and more.
“Strong evidence shows that a higher intake of ultra-processed foods was associated with approximately 50% higher risk of cardiovascular disease-related death and common mental disorders,” said lead author Melissa Lane, a postdoctoral research fellow at the Food & Mood Centre at Deakin University in Geelong, Australia.
The study reported evidence that a high intake of ultra-processed food could increase anxiety by 53%. Along with that, it increases the risk of early death from any cause by 20%.
Ultra-processed foods often contain high levels of saturated fat, salt, and sugar, and when we eat them, we leave less room in our diets for more nutritious foods. It’s also been suggested that the additives in these foods could be responsible for negative health effects.
