Just an extra 3½ ounces of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) a day was linked to a higher risk of chronic disease, according to a new large-scale analysis.The study, published Sept.22 in the journal Family Medicine and Community Health, looked at nearly 8.8 million adults who participated in studies across the Americas, Europe, Asia and Oceania, with follow-up periods ranging from two to 32 years.For every additional 100 grams of UPFs consumed daily, researchers found an association with a 14% higher risk of cardiovascular events, a 4% higher risk of cancer, a 3% higher risk of death from any cause and a 2% higher risk of metabolic syndrome or diabetes, according to a news release.5 ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS THAT MAY BE WORSE FOR YOUR HEALTH THAN YOU THINK, EXPERT SAYSUPFs are typically packaged and convenient, made through extensive industrial processing and often packed with additives.
They can include sugary drinks, processed meats, packaged snacks and candy. One hundred grams is about the size of a 3½-ounce bag of corn chips, a small box of candy or a single-serve cup of mini cookies.Ultra-processed foods can include sugary drinks, processed meats, packaged snacks and candy, according to the analysis.(iStock)People with the highest intake of UPFs also had higher risks of digestive diseases, depression or anxiety, obesity, cancer and cardiovascular events than those with the lowest intake of the foods.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER"Given that UPF-related chronic diseases often cluster as multimorbidity, reducing consumption of UPFs and replacing them with minimally processed alternatives may be relevant for chronic disease prevention and primary care management," the researchers, led by Xiao Liu, a cardiologist at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital in China and a research fellow at Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore, wrote."A diet built around whole, minimally processed foods is one of the best investments we can make in our long-term health."These t...