Ultra-Processed Foods They've long had a bad reputation for being high in calories, sugar, fat and salt – now, UK researchers have identified four types that may cause cancer. Type 2 Diabetes,
The riskiest UPFs include salty snacks, animal-based products such as processed meatsready-to-eat meals and Sweetened beverages sugar or artificial substitutes, according to a study published on Sunday The Lancet Regional Health – Europe,
“This study…confirms that not all foods classified as UPFs are the same in terms of the health risks associated with them,” Senior writer Rachel Batterham saidProfessor of Obesity, Diabetes and Endocrinology at University College London, Dr.
Researchers analyzed the UPF intake of nearly 312,000 people from eight European countries. The participants were tracked for an average of about 11 years — during that time, about 15,000 people developed type 2 diabetes.
The study authors linked each 10% increase in UPF to a 17% increase in diabetes risk.
Participants can reduce this risk by substituting unprocessed or minimally processed foods (MPF) – such as eggs, milk and fruit – or processed foods (PF) – such as canned fish, cheese, salted nuts, handmade breads and preserved fruit and vegetables.
The researchers divided UPFs into nine groups:
- Bread, biscuits and breakfast cereals
- Sauces, spreads, and condiments
- Sweets and desserts
- Delicious snacks
- Plant-based alternatives
- Animal-based products
- Ready-to-eat/hot mixed dishes
- artificially and sugar sweetened beverages
- Alcoholic beverages
- Other UPF
Among those who ate the most UPFs — where these foods made up about a quarter of their diet — sweetened beverages made up about 40% of their UPF intake and 9% of their overall diet.
from high levels of sugar in the blood Damaging cellsInspiration chronic inflammationWhich is linked to heart disease, diabetes, liver disease and cancer.
On the other hand, the authors of the new study found that UPFs are found in breads, biscuits and breakfast cereals, sweets and desserts, and Plant-based alternatives were associated with a lower incidence of diabetes.
“For example, bread and cereals are a staple of many people's diets,” Batterham said. “Based on our results, I think we should treat them differently from salty snacks or sweetened beverages in terms of dietary advice.”
obesity And Type 2 Diabetes Public health crises are widespread in the U.S., so dietary choices are of paramount importance.
“The findings of this study add to the growing research that links UPF intake to an increased risk of certain chronic diseases, including obesity, cardiometabolic diseases and some cancers,” said study author Mark Gunter of Imperial College London.
Gunther added: “Although studies of this type cannot determine causal relationships, it does suggest that reducing consumption of certain UPFs and replacing them with unprocessed, whole foods may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. Further research is now needed to understand the mechanisms and possible causal pathways.”
The UCL team is conducting a trial to assess UPF versus MPF, with results expected to be published next year.
Meanwhile, A recent study done by Harvard found that sugary or artificially sweetened beverages and processed meats It may increase your risk of heart disease more than other UPFs.
Salty snacks, cold cereals, and yogurt/dairy-based desserts were associated with a lower risk of heart disease, and ultra-processed breads and cold cereals were associated with a lower risk of heart disease. Lower risk of stroke,
