An alarming new peer-reviewed study, the largest of its kind, finds that ultra-processed foods are linked to 32 harmful health conditions and significantly lower the risk of cancer, diabetes and early death. It has become clear that there is a possibility of increasing
of
studyA systematic meta-analysis published Wednesday in the British Medical Association’s prestigious journal BMJ found that “increased exposure to ultra-processed foods is associated with lower all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease-related mortality, and common mental disorders. They found evidence of a direct association between “increased risk of The result is overweight and obesity, and type 2 diabetes. ”
Given the global shift from unprocessed and minimally processed foods to UPF in recent years, the effects of exposure to ultra-processed foods can be far-reaching. The study found that currently “the proportion of dietary energy from ultra-processed foods ranges between 42% and 58% in Australia and the United States.”
The study, which included experts from a variety of top institutions, including the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and France’s Sorbonne University, builds on a globally advanced definition of “ultra-processed foods.”
Nova food classification system.
According to the Nova system, processed foods typically consist of a primary plant or animal ingredient with the addition of one or more culinary ingredients, such as oil, butter, sugar, or salt. Alternatively, ultra-processed foods are not processed primary ingredients, but rather industrial composites of chemically manipulated substances that are extracted from food, derived from food ingredients, and/or prepared in a laboratory. .
UPFs are installed in nearly every aisle in grocery stores. These include packaged snacks, soft drinks, instant noodles, sweetened cereals, packaged baked goods, frozen fish sticks, oven-ready pizzas, breakfast bars, and ready-made meals.
The researchers examined the results of 14 meta-analysis studies published over the past three years in 45 separate pooled analyses. Eighty-seven percent of pooled analyzes yielded estimates of UPF exposure based on food frequency questionnaires, 24-hour dietary recalls, and participants’ dietary history.
Researchers found that UPF exposure was consistently associated with 32 adverse health outcomes, including all-cause mortality. Cancer-related deaths. Cardiovascular disease-related deaths. Heart disease related deaths. Breast cancer; central nervous system tumors. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Colorectal cancer. pancreatic cancer; prostate cancer. Sleep-related adverse outcomes. Anxiety; a common mental disorder outcome. depression; asthma; wheezing; Crohn’s disease; ulcerative colitis; obesity; hypertension; and type 2 diabetes.
“Based on a random effects model, 32 (71%) different pooled analyzes showed a direct association between increased exposure to ultra-processed foods and increased risk of adverse health effects. ‘ says the study. “Furthermore, of these combined analyses, 11 (34%) showed continued statistical significance even when applying more stringent thresholds.”
Heart disease-related mortality, cardiovascular disease-related mortality, all-cause mortality, type 2 diabetes, wheezing, and depression were among the 11 adverse health outcomes that continued to show statistical significance despite stricter thresholds. contained within.
guardian
I got it. The evidence rated “compelling” in this study shows that high UPF exposure increases the risk of cardiovascular-related deaths by approximately 50%, increases the risk of anxiety and psychiatric disorders by 48% to 53%, and increases the risk of diabetes by 12%. % increase. .
“Across the integrated analyses, higher exposure to ultra-processed foods, whether measured by more or less consumption, additional servings per day, or 10% more food, was consistently associated with better health. “We found that the risk of adverse effects was high,” the study added.
handle
Editor Two Brazilian academics write in the BMJ that UPF is “designed to be highly desirable by combining sugar, fat, and salt to maximize reward, and by adding flavor that makes it appetizing when you’re not hungry.” “Many are addictive and will be judged by set standards.” It sells tobacco products and aggressively markets them through meal deals, extra sizes, and advertising. ”
The Brazilians suggested that investment management companies and manufacturers are “likely to resist” efforts to control and reduce UPF production and consumption. Keeping in mind the similarities with tobacco, the Brazilian duo recommended rolling out national dietary guidelines warning against UPF intake. Ban the sale of junk food near schools and hospitals. Regulation of UPF Marketing.
Do you like Blaze News? Avoid censorship and sign up for our newsletter to get articles like this delivered straight to your inbox. Please register here!
