Study Reveals Surprising Link of Processed Foods to Dangerous Diseases

Ultra-processed foods have been demonized for raising the risk of poor health, reports the Daily Mail. But a major study has found that some highly processed foods (UPF) may not be so bad for us after all.

Products with additives have been vilified for decades for their perceived risks, and dozens of studies have linked them to type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer, the Daily Mail notes.

Experts have even called for eliminating ultra-processed foods from the diet—usually anything edible that contains more artificial ingredients than natural ones.

But researchers, including several officials from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the World Health Organization’s specialized cancer agency, said there was no link between the increased risk of the disease and ultra-processed breads, cereals and ready meals. In fact, experts analyzing the results said these products may even reduce the risk. There was also no association found with plant-based substitutes, sweets, desserts and salty snacks.

However, scientists found an increased risk of poor health if people drank a lot of artificially sweetened or sugary drinks or animal products such as processed meat.

Ultra-processed foods include foods that contain ingredients that people wouldn’t normally add to their home-cooked meals, the Daily Mail notes. These additives may include chemicals, colors, sweeteners and preservatives that extend shelf life.

Prepared meals, ice cream and tomato ketchup are some of the most popular examples of foods that fall under the umbrella term “ultra-processed,” which is now synonymous with foods with low nutritional value.

They are different from processed foods, which are processed to make them last longer or improve their taste, such as jerky, cheese and fresh bread.

The researchers sought to explore the connection between ultra-processed foods and people suffering from at least two chronic diseases at the same time. This included cancer, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

Scientists studied more than 260,000 people in seven European countries and tracked their food intake using questionnaires. The results showed that the average UPF intake for men and women was 413 g/day and 326 g/day, respectively, representing 34% of the daily energy intake for men and 32% for women. After an average of 11.2 years, they found that a total of 4,461 people had developed both cancer and cardiovascular disease or diabetes.

The analysis found that those who consumed more ultra-processed food had about a 9% higher risk of developing the two diseases.

But when looking at subgroups of such foods, the researchers noted that the association was most pronounced for ultra-processed animal foods and artificially sweetened and sugar-sweetened beverages.

“Other subgroups, such as highly processed breads and cereals or plant-based alternatives, were not associated with risk,” the researchers concluded.

They said: “Artificially and sugar-sweetened beverages, animal products and sauces, spreads and condiments, but not other subgroups, were associated with an increased risk, suggesting that more detailed analysis of subgroups of ultra-processed foods is needed.”

Heinz Freisling, co-author and study leader at IARC, also said the study “emphasizes that there is no need to completely avoid highly processed foods.”

He added: “Rather, their consumption should be limited and preference should be given to fresh or minimally processed foods.”

Meanwhile, Dr Helen Crocker, assistant director of research and policy at the World Cancer Research Fund, which helped fund the study, said: “What’s particularly important about this large study is that eating more ultra-processed foods, particularly animal products origin and sweetened beverages have been associated with an increased risk of cancer developing cancer along with another disease, such as stroke or diabetes. Our cancer prevention recommendations include limiting consumption of processed foods that are high in fats, starches or sugars, and avoiding processed meats and eating plenty of whole grains, vegetables, legumes and fruits.”

Dr Ian Johnson, a nutrition researcher and honorary fellow at the Quadram Institute, a food and health research centre, said the researchers recognized that “the UPF definition covers a very wide and varied range of foods”.

He added: “It is important to note that ultra-processed bread and grain products have been shown to be associated with reduced risk. These observations do suggest a role for some UPFs in multiple chronic diseases, but they also show that the common assumption that all UPF foods are associated with “adverse health effects is probably not true. In addition, ultra-processed grain products may have health benefits, perhaps because some are convenient and palatable sources of dietary fiber.”