Ultraprocessed foods, such as soda and white bread, are linked to a higher risk of premature death.
Processed Foods: A Deadly Diet Trend?
Eating your way to an earlier grave might not be so far-fetched if your favorite snacks are loaded with sugar, salt, and other harmful ingredients. That's the shocking conclusion from a recent study on America's favorite junk foods.
From white bread to soda, the Red Flag of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) includes additives like preservatives, artificial colors, trans fats, and high levels of sugar and salt. UPFs make up about half of American diets, more than any other country. Get ready to get a scare; lead study investigator Eduardo Nilson believes this type of diet could be potentially lethal.
"We found that each 10% increase in the share of UPFs in the diet increases the risk of death from all causes by approximately 3%," he said in a press release.
Nilson and his team analyzed data on UPF consumption from eight countries, including the US. Shockingly, the US topped the charts for having the highest concentration of UPFs in its diets.
This means Americans face an increased risk of death of nearly 14%. The study estimates around 124,000 premature deaths in the US in 2018 alone were due to UPF consumption.
UPF consumption has been linked to numerous health issues such as obesity, high blood pressure, and cancer, but this research sheds light on the hidden dangers lurking in UPFs that are often overlooked.
"UPFs pose a risk to health beyond individual nutrient content due to changes during industrial processing, use of artificial ingredients, and various additives. Thus, assessing all-cause mortality associated with UPF consumption allows for an overall estimate of the impact of industrial food processing on health," Nilson clarified.
While the US faces the highest rate of premature deaths, UPFs are becoming a pressing concern in many other countries.
"It's concerning that while the burden due to UPF consumption is currently higher in high-income countries, it is growing in other countries. This suggests there's an urgent need for policies worldwide that discourage UPF consumption and promote traditional diets based on local, fresh, and minimally processed foods," Nilson stated.
To reach these conclusions, Nilson's team examined data on UPF consumption in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, the UK, and the US.
Health Risks Galore:
UPFs have been linked to numerous adverse health outcomes, including increased risks of hypertension, cardiovascular events, cancer, digestive diseases, obesity, type 2 diabetes, cognitive decline, and dementia.
Global Response:
The World Health Organization is taking measured steps to provide guidance on UPF consumption and promoting healthier diets. Various countries are creating nutritional guidelines discouraging UPFs, modifying food labels, and imposing taxes on sugary drinks or high-sodium foods. Increasing awareness through education campaigns is critical in promoting healthier dietary choices.
- Chronic diseases and health-and-wellness issues, such as obesity, high blood pressure, cancer, and cognitive decline, are associated with the consumption of medical-conditions like excessive sugar, salt, and chemical additives found in ultraprocessed foods (UPFs).
- In light of the health risks galore associated with UPFs, the World Health Organization is taking steps to guide UPF consumption and encourage healthier diets on a global scale.
- To combat the rise of chronic diseases connected to fitness-and-exercise and nutrition deficiencies, many countries are developing nutritional guidelines that discourage UPFs, and modifying food labels to better represent the true nutritional content.
