A sweeping review reveals a strong link between ultra-processed foods and a range of health issues, from heart disease to anxiety.
Rachel Pannett reports for The Washington Post.
In short:
- Research involving nearly 10 million people shows a significant association between ultra-processed foods and more than 30 health conditions.
- Consuming high amounts of these foods increases the risk of cardiovascular disease-related death by about 50% and anxiety disorders by up to 53%.
- Ultra-processed foods, making up to 58% of the U.S. daily intake, are criticized for their chemical alterations and minimal whole food content.
Key quote:
“The volume of evidence in this review would suggest that it would do no harm to swap out the Pop-Tart for a piece of whole-grain toast.”
— Helen Truby, a research fellow at the University of Queensland.
Why this matters:
Ultra-processed foods often contain chemical additives and chemically altered ingredients linked to a range of health concerns, including mental health disorders, cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and obesity. Regulatory standards for processed foods remain weak despite the health risks: For example, a recent report found the FDA is not testing food, additives or packaging for chemicals that cause obesity or disrupt our metabolism
