Ultra-processed foods have higher amounts of ingredients that are known to be bad for your health.
By Staff Writer | Feb 12, 2019
Every bite of that hot dog is shortening your life span. According to a study conducted in France, a small intake in “ultraprocessed” foods significantly increases the risk of early death. Ultraprocessed foods are manufactured and contain lots of unhealthy additives. These foods are most common in our snacks, frozen meals, and desserts.
Ultra-processed foods also often contain many substances that give them good taste, consistency and appearance, including colorants, flavor enhancers, emulsifiers, and preservatives.
In other words: these types of foods are made from raw materials that are broken down and then reconstructed to create the products we eat.
These types of foods are contributing to illness, heart disease, and different kinds of cancer. There has been a dramatic increase in the consumption of these foods within the last several decades.
Gaining Momentum
Ultraprocessed foods make up more than half of diets in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. A study conducted in France to better understand the link between early death and ultraprocessed foods. Nearly 50 thousand French adults were tracked for two years. The study was about three-quarters women, and the participants were required to submit a food log detailing all hours of the day. They also completed surveys about their demographics and physical activity.
The results of the study were staggering. Ultraprocessed foods accounted for nearly one-third of dietary intake. Ultraprocessed food consumption was linked to lower socioeconomic status, lower age, lower physical activity level, and higher body mass index (BMI). A shocking 600 participants died over the two-year study. Authors contribute the additives and processing negatively affect health.
Authors of the study were able to conclude that the consumption of these foods even in small amounts can add to an early death.
Read Your Labels!
The study provided some foundation for the effects of ultraprocessed foods. However, many different types of foods can be grouped under this category making it difficult to distinguish the effects of the study.
The results can help point us in the right direction. The current world that we live in is always on the go. People are looking for convenient meals to feed their families.
These quick meals come with an unhealthy price tag of compromised health. If you have to settle for quick meals, become a detective! Look at the front and back of all packages. The ingredient list should be small and with words that you can understand. If you see a bunch of multi-syllable words that you cannot pronounce, it is a clear sign that it can be disastrous for your health. Go ahead and put that item right on the shelf where you found it!