The Health risks of ultra-processed foods
Ultra-processed foods are unhealthy
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First published: 03.Dec.2023
Overview: Junk food can kill you
Ultra-processed foods or UPFs make up almost 60% of the average American's daily calorie intake. These foods are packed with added sugars, unhealthy fats and additives that make them high-calory foods with a low nutrient content.
In this article we will look at the health risks associated to ultra-processed foods, ranging from weight gain to cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer.
References and Further Reading
(1) Fardet A., (2016). Minimally processed foods are more satiating and less hyperglycemic than ultra-processed foods: a preliminary study with 98 ready-to-eat foods. Food Funct. 2016 May 18;7(5):2338-46. doi: 10.1039/c6fo00107f. Epub 2016 Apr 29. PMID: 27125637
(2) Hall et al., (2019). Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain: An Inpatient Randomized Controlled Trial of Ad Libitum Food Intake. Cell Metabolism 30, 67–77.e1–e3; July 2, 2019 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2020.08.014
(3) Gearhardt A N, Bueno N B, DiFeliceantonio A G, Roberto C A, Jimenez-Murcia S, Fernandez-Aranda F et al., (2023). Social, clinical, and policy implications of ultra-processed food addiction. BMJ 2023; 383 :e075354 doi:10.1136/bmj-2023-075354
(4) Tristan Asensi M, Napoletano A, Sofi F, Dinu M., (2023). Low-Grade Inflammation and Ultra-Processed Foods Consumption: A Review. Nutrients. 2023 Mar 22;15(6):1546. doi: 10.3390/nu15061546. PMID: 36986276
(5) Iwata NG, Pham M, Rizzo NO, Cheng AM, Maloney E, Kim F., (2011). Trans fatty acids induce vascular inflammation and reduce vascular nitric oxide production in endothelial cells. PLoS One. 2011;6(12):e29600. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0029600. Epub 2011 Dec 28. PMID: 22216328
(6) Innes JK, Calder PC., (2018). Omega-6 fatty acids and inflammation. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2018 May;132:41-48. doi: 10.1016/j.plefa.2018.03.004. Epub 2018 Mar 22. PMID: 29610056
(7) Simopoulos AP., (2006). Evolutionary aspects of diet, the omega-6/omega-3 ratio and genetic variation: nutritional implications for chronic diseases. Biomed Pharmacother. 2006 Nov;60(9):502-7. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2006.07.080. Epub 2006 Aug 28. PMID: 17045449
(8) Yilmaz R, Akoglu H, Altun B, Yildirim T, Arici M, Erdem Y., (2012). Dietary salt intake is related to inflammation and albuminuria in primary hypertensive patients. Eur J Clin Nutr 66: 1214–1218, 2012. doi:10.1038/ejcn.2012.11
(9) Ma X, Nan F, Liang H, Shu P, Fan X, Song X, Hou Y, Zhang D., (2022). Excessive intake of sugar: An accomplice of inflammation. Front Immunol. 2022 Aug 31;13:988481. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.988481. PMID: 36119103
(10) Morales-Berstein, F., Biessy, C., Viallon, V. et al., (2023). Ultra-processed foods, adiposity and risk of head and neck cancer and oesophageal adenocarcinoma in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study: a mediation analysis. Eur J Nutr (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-023-03270-1
(11) The Pew Charitable Trusts, (2013). Fixing the Oversight of Chemicals Added to Our Food. Findings and Recommendations of Pew's Assessment of the U.S. Food Additives Program. Report November 7, 2013
(12) Srour B, Fezeu LK, Kesse-Guyot E, et al., (2020). Ultraprocessed Food Consumption and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Among Participants of the NutriNet-Santé Prospective Cohort. JAMA Intern Med. 2020;180(2):283–291. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2019.5942
(13) Y Qu, W Hu, C Xing, L Yuan, J Huang, (2023). Ultra-processed food consumption and cardiovascular events risk. uropean Heart Journal, Volume 44, Issue Supplement_2, November 2023, ehad655.2389, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehad655.2389
About this Article
What are ultra-processed foods, A. Whittall
©2023 Fit-and-Well.com, 03 Dec. 2023. Update scheduled for 03 Dec. 2025. https://www.fit-and-well.com/health/health-risks-of-ultra-processed-foods.html
Tags: diet, food, health risks, heart, cancer, diabetes, abdominal fat, obesity, ultra-processed foods, processed foods.