In our fast-paced world, convenience can often come at the cost of nutrition. This shift has led to an increased reliance on . But diets high in ultra-processed foods are increasingly being linked to —including obesity, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases.
The poor nutritional profile of ultra-processed foods, which often lack and fiber, plays a . There's also growing evidence that ultra-processed foods may affect how our immune system works. This may explain why some studies have linked ultra-processed foods with and potentially .
Ultra-processed foods (such as packaged snacks, , and ready-to-eat meals) often contain emulsifiers, microparticles (such as ), thickeners, stabilizers, flavors and colorants. While research on humans is limited, studies on mice have shown that these ingredients alter the gut microbiome (the community of microorganisms living in the intestines) in several ways. These many microbiome changes can in turn affect the way the immune system functions.
The microbiome and the immune system Studies on mice have shown that exposure to can weaken the gut's mucus barrier. This can make it easier for microbes (including harmful ones) to cross in and out of the gut. Changes in the mucus barrier's integrity also correlated with higher levels of inflammatory markers.
These are signs the body's is activated. The typical of diets high in ultra-processed foods may also affect the gut barrier's integrity. The gut's microbes need to digest fiber in order t.