Health
Slash Years Off Your Life! Ditch These 3 Ultraprocessed Foods Now
Healthy eating is more than just managing your weight or maintaining your momentum on the treadmill. It’s also about longevity. A new study, gathering thirty years of data, has pinpointed “ultraprocessed” foods that could be shortening your lifespan if consumed in high amounts.
The study was published in The BMJ on May 8. Over 100,000 U.S. health professionals with no history of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, or diabetes at the start of the research were monitored from the mid-1980s through 2018. Every two years, they completed a mailed questionnaire about their medical and lifestyle habits. An in-depth food questionnaire was sent out every four years.
The results of the study were significant. The individuals who consumed the highest amount of ultraprocessed food, equating to about seven servings per day, were found to have a 4 percent increased risk of death from any cause. As concluded by the researchers, “Higher ultra-processed food intake was associated with slightly increased all-cause mortality.” This finding strongly supports the notion of curbing consumption of certain ultraprocessed foods for enhanced long-term health.
But what exactly constitutes ultraprocessed foods? According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN), these foods contain ingredients that are “never or rarely used in kitchens, or classes of additives whose function is to make the final product palatable or more appealing.” This includes products with ingredients such as high-fructose corn syrup, flavor enhancers, artificial sweeteners, and thickeners.
Not all ultraprocessed foods are equal, according to the study. Lead author Dr. Mingyang Song, associate professor of clinical epidemiology and nutrition at Harvard’s TH Chan School of Public Health, specified in an interview with CNN that there are three types of ultraprocessed foods that could have a greater impact on one’s length of life. He noted, “The positive association is mainly driven by a few subgroups including processed meat and sugar sweetened or artificially sweetened beverages.”
For instance, processed meat “showed the strongest association with higher all-cause mortality and mortality due to individual causes other than cardiovascular diseases and neurodegenerative diseases,” according to the research.
That said, Dr. Song does not suggest that all ultraprocessed foods, such as cereals or whole grain breads, should be completely avoided. These foods, although considered ultraprocessed, may still provide beneficial nutrients like fiber, vitamins, and minerals. He emphasized, however, that certain ultraprocessed foods should be limited, particularly processed meat, sugar-sweetened beverages, and potentially artificially sweetened beverages.
The most crucial factor in longevity is likely the overall quality of a person’s diet. Dr. Song reassured, “If people maintain a generally healthy diet, I don’t think they need to be scared or be freaked out. The overall dietary pattern is still the predominant factor determining the health outcomes.” He suggested those concerned about food additives should go for options with low levels of additives, and stay mindful of the nutritional content of any ultraprocessed foods they do choose to consume.
While this research supplies valuable insight, it’s always important to consult your healthcare provider for personalized medical advice. Your diet and the medication you’re taking are personal aspects of your health that should be discussed directly with professional guidance.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
