ULTRAPROCESSED FOODS ARE EASY, CHEAP AND COULD BE KILLING YOU
Check out the link from CNN.com about the negative impact that ULTRAPROCESSED FOODS can have on our health. Ultraprocessed foods include “pre-prepared dishes found in grocery store freezers, packaged baked goods, dehydrated soups, ice cream, sugary cereals and fizzy beverages.”
The article describes two separate studies published earlier this month in BMJ that
“link eating the popular factory-made fare with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and an increased risk of early death. While a direct cause-effect relationship has yet to be established, the researchers of both studies note that previous studies have associated highly processed food consumption with higher risks of obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and even some cancers.”
“Ultraprocessed foods already make up more than half of the total dietary energy consumed in high-income countries such as USA, Canada and the UK,” Maira Bes-Rastrollo, senior author of one study and a professor of preventive medicine and public health at the Universidad de Navarra, told CNN in an email. “In the case of Spain, consumption of ultraprocessed food almost tripled between 1990 and 2010.”
“Studies examined intake of the following categories: the “unprocessed or minimally processed” food category included fruits, vegetables, legumes, milk, eggs, meats, poultry, fish and seafood, yogurt, grains (white rice and pasta) and natural juice. Salt, sugar, honey, olive oil, butter and lard were listed in the category of “processed ingredients,” while “processed foods” included cheeses, breads, beer, wine, cured traditional ham and bacon. The final category encompassed ultraprocessed foods such as flan, chorizo, sausages, mayonnaise, potato chips, pizza, cookies, chocolates and candies, artificially sweetened beverages and whisky, gin and rum.
Generally, products in this category are rich in poor quality fat, added sugar and salt, along with low vitamin density and fiber content, and they “are economically profitable (low cost ingredients), very palatable and convenient,” said Bes-Rastrollo. “They have attractive packaging and intense marketing.” Worst of all, she explained, they are replacing unprocessed or minimally processed foods and freshly prepared meals in our diets.
Analyzing the data, the team found that a higher consumption of heavily processed foods — more than four servings each day — was associated with a 62% increased risk for early death due to any cause relative to those who ate these foods less frequently. And, each additional serving of the factory-made fare increased that relative risk by 18%, the new study indicated.”
Read the full article to gain more important information! If you are interested in making changes in your nutrition or just want to ensure you are achieving recommended goals, please call for an appointment with our registered dietitian nutritionist, Claire Allen. We also have a comprehensive weight management program to try to fully optimize your nutrition and wellness. Call 224.407.4400 or visit compgihealth.com to learn more!