In countries like the UK, US and Canada, ultra-processed foods now account for 50 percent or more of calories consumed.
This is concerning, given that these foods have been linked to a number of different health conditions, including an increased risk of obesity and various chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease Y dementia.
Ultra-processed foods are industrial multi-ingredient concoctions (such as emulsifiers, thickeners and artificial flavors), amalgamated into food products through a series of manufacturing processes.
Sugary drinks and many breakfast cereals are ultra-processed foods, as are newer innovations such as so-called plant based burgersusually made from isolated proteins and other chemicals to make the products palatable.
The intense industrial processes used to produce ultra-processed foods destroy the natural structure ingredients and remove many beneficial nutrients such as fiber, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals.
Many of us are well aware that ultra-processed foods are bad for our health. But it has not been clear whether this is simply because these foods have low nutritional value. Now, two new studies have shown that poor nutrition may not be enough to explain its health risks.
The role of inflammation
the first study, which looked at more than 20,000 healthy Italian adults, found that participants who ate the most ultra-processed foods had a higher risk of dying prematurely from any cause. the second studywhich analyzed more than 50,000 US male health professionals, found that a high consumption of ultra-processed foods was associated with an increased risk of colon cancer.
What is most interesting about these studies is that the health risks of consuming a diet high in ultra-processed foods remained even after the poor nutritional quality of their diets had been taken into account. This suggests that other factors contribute to the damage caused by ultra-processed foods.
It also means that getting the right nutrients in other parts of the diet may not be enough to cancel out the risk of disease from eating ultra-processed foods. Similarly, the food industry’s attempts to improve the nutritional value of ultra-processed foods by adding a few more vitamins may be sidestepping a more fundamental problem with these foods.
So what factors can explain why ultra-processed foods are so harmful to our health?
The Italian study found that inflammatory markers, such as higher white blood cell counts, were higher in the groups that ate the most ultra-processed foods. Our bodies can trigger an inflammatory response for various reasons, for example if we catch a cold or cut ourselves. The body responds by sending signals to our immune cells (such as white blood cells) to attack any invading pathogens (such as bacteria or viruses).
Usually our inflammatory response resolves fairly quickly, but some people can develop chronic inflammation throughout the body. This can cause tissue damage and is linked to many chronic diseases, such as cancer Y cardiovascular disease.
Many studies have found that poor diets can increase inflammation in the body and that this is linked to a higher risk of chronic diseases. Since signs of inflammation were seen in the Italian study participants who ate the most ultra-processed foods, this could suggest that inflammation may contribute to ultra-processed foods increasing disease risk. Some common food additives in ultra-processed foods (such as emulsifiers and artificial sweeteners) also increase inflammation in the gut by causing changes in the gut microbiome.
Some researchers have theorized that ultra-processed foods increase inflammation because the body recognizes them as foreign, just like invading bacteria. The body then mounts an inflammatory response, which has been termed “fast food fever.” As a result, inflammation increases throughout the body.
Although the US Colon Cancer Study did not establish whether inflammation was increased in men who ate the most ultra-processed foods, inflammation is strongly associated with a increased risk of colon cancer.
Research shows that other mechanisms, such as Impaired renal function Y toxins in food packaging—It may also explain why ultra-processed foods cause so many dangerous health problems.
Since inflammatory responses are hardwired into our bodies, the best way to prevent this from happening is to avoid eating ultra-processed foods. Some plant-based diets rich in natural, unprocessed foods (such as Mediterranean diet) have also been shown to be anti-inflammatory. This may also explain why plant-based diets without ultra-processed foods can help prevent chronic diseases. It is not currently known to what extent an anti-inflammatory diet can help counteract the effects of ultra-processed foods.
Simply reducing your intake of ultra-processed foods can be challenging. Ultra-processed foods are designed to be very tasty, and coupled with persuasive marketing, this can make resisting them an enormous challenge for some people.
Ultra-processed foods are not labeled as such on food packaging. The best way to identify them is by looking at their ingredients. Usually, things like emulsifiers, thickeners, isolated proteins and other products that look industrial are a sign that it is an ultra-processed food. Making meals from scratch using natural foods is the best way to avoid the damage of ultra-processed foods.
richard hoffman is an associate professor of nutritional biochemistry at the University of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom. This article was originally published on The conversation.
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