Ultra-processed foods appear to increase people’s risk of death People who ate more ultra-processed foods had a higher risk of death than those who ate the least Deaths related to heart disease and diabetes were particularly more likely MONDAY, July 1, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- People who eat more ultra-processed foods are more likely to suffer an early death, particularly from or diabetes, a new study warns. Older adults who consume higher amounts of ultra-processed foods are about 10% more likely to die than those who eat less processed foods, over an average 23-year follow-up. In particular, soft drinks and highly processed meats like hot dogs, sausages and deli cold cuts are “most strongly associated with mortality risk,” said researcher , an investigator with the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
“Eating a diet low in these foods is already recommended for disease prevention and health promotion,” Loftfield added in an NCI news release. Ultra-processed foods are made mostly from substances extracted from whole foods, like saturated fats, starches and added sugars. These products also contain a wide variety of additives to make them more tasty, attractive and shelf-stable, including colors, emulsifiers, flavors and stabilizers.
Examples include packaged baked goods, sugary cereals, ready-to-eat or ready-to-heat products and deli meat. For this study, researchers analyzed data from more than 540,000 people ages 50 to 71 regarding their eating habits and their healt.
