By Madeline Holcombe | CNN
According to a 30-year study, eating highly processed foods is linked to an early risk of death – but different foods have different effects.
Ultra-processed foods are those who contain ingredients which might be “never or rarely used in the kitchen, or classes of additives whose function is to make the final product more palatable or appealing,” based on the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
These ingredients – found, for instance, in sodas, chips, packaged soups, nuggets and ice cream – may include preservatives to forestall mold or bacteria, artificial colours, emulsifiers to forestall separation, and added or modified sugars, salt and fats, to make the food more attractive.
Processed meat and sugary foods and drinks usually are not related to the identical risks as, for instance, highly processed whole grains, said the study's lead creator, Dr. Mingyang Song, associate professor of clinical epidemiology and nutrition at Harvard's TH Chan School of Public Health.
The study analyzed data from greater than 100,000 healthcare professionals within the United States who had no history of cancer, heart problems or diabetes. From 1986 to 2018, participants provided details about their health and lifestyle habits every two years.
Every 4 years they filled out an in depth food questionnaire.
The group that consumed the least highly processed foods ate a mean of about three servings per day, while the group with the very best consumed a mean of seven servings per day Study published on Wednesday within the journal The BMJ.
The data showed that those that ate essentially the most had a 4% higher risk of death from any cause, including a 9% increased risk of neurodegenerative death.
Song described the correlation as “moderate” and noted that the association shouldn’t be equally strong across every kind of highly processed foods.
“The positive association is primarily driven by a few subgroups, including processed meats and sugar-sweetened or artificially sweetened beverages,” he said.
The results of this study were consistent with lots of of others in the sector, but what makes this study unique is the evaluation of various subgroups throughout the highly processed food category, said Dr. Marion Nestle, Professor Emeritus of Nutrition, Food Studies and Paulette Goddard of Public Health at New York University.
Do we’d like to do away with all highly processed foods?
“Grains and whole-grain breads, for example, are also considered highly processed foods, but contain various beneficial nutrients such as fiber, vitamins and minerals,” he said. “On the other hand, I think people should try to avoid or limit consumption of certain highly processed foods such as processed meats, sugar-sweetened drinks and possibly artificially sweetened drinks.”
There are also other questions that should be answered regarding highly processed foods.
First, the present study is powerful due to the time period covered, however it is an observational study. That implies that while researchers can observe a connection, they’ll't say the food was the explanation for death, Dr. Peter Wilde, Emeritus Scientist on the Quadram Institute Bioscience within the United Kingdom.
Researchers also have to look more closely on the components of highly processed foods that would affect health – be they food additives, emulsifiers or flavors – to advise governments and institutions on food regulation, Song said.
General nutrition is most vital
Researchers also found that an important consider reducing the danger of death is the standard of an individual's overall weight loss program, Song said.
“If people eat a healthy diet in general, I don’t think they need to be afraid or panicked,” he said. “General dietary pattern is still the predominant factor determining health outcomes.”
A healthy weight loss program is varied, with as much colourful fruit and vegetables as possible in addition to whole grain products, said Wilde.
“If you are concerned about food additives, choose foods with low levels of additives,” he said in an email. “Just pay attention to the nutritional content of (the highly processed foods) you consume.”
It can also be necessary to acknowledge that foods should be consumed in a balanced manner. Fruit juices contain helpful vitamins, minerals and antioxidants when consumed sparsely, but an excessive amount of incorporates high sugar levels that may negate their advantages, Wilde said.
“It’s not black and white,” he said. “A particular food is neither good nor bad, it contains elements of both, and the balance between the two may depend on how much you eat.”
The CNN Wire
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