Find out which foods can contribute the most to the possibility of premature death
According to a study conducted by researchers from Harvard University Public Health. The study was published in the scientific journal BMJ.
A research states that “greater consumption of ultra-processed foods was associated with mortality slightly driven by causes other than cancer and cardiovascular disease.”
The research considered data from over 114,000 nurses and doctors in the United States, between 1984 (in the case of nurses) and 1986 (in the case of doctors), and 2018. In other words, the analyzes considered the state of participants’ health for more than three decades. More than 48,000 participants died during the study.
Every four years the people who took part in the research filled out a questionnaire. Participants had no family history of cancer, cardiovascular disease or diabetes.
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Results
The group that consumed the most ultra-processed foods ate an average of seven servings per day, while the group that ate the fewest ultra-processed foods consumed an average of about three servings per day.
The findings show that those who ate the most ultra-processed foods had a 4 percent greater risk of dying from any cause, including an 8 percent greater risk of death from neurodegenerative diseases.
“Processed meat was the food type most strongly associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality. Sweetened and artificially sweetened beverages, lactose-containing desserts, and ultra-processed breakfast foods also showed associations with greater all-cause mortality, as well as the miscellaneous subgroup, which included primarily artificial sweeteners,” reads an article published by the Harvard Public Health Unit.
ultra-processed foods
The United Nations defines ultra-processed foods as those that contain ingredients “never or rarely used in cooking, or classes of additives whose function is to make the final product palatable or more attractive.” In other words, snacks, sodas and hot dogs are examples of ultra-processed foods.
But while there are foods with seasonings, preservatives and emulsifiers that tend to increase the risk of death, other foods can be healthful, according to researchers.
In an interview with CNN, one of the authors of the research, Professor Mingyang Song, stated that “cereals, wholemeal bread, for example, are also considered ultra-processed foods, but they contain several beneficial nutrients such as fibre, vitamins and minerals.”
The researchers say that overall diet quality is what matters most for health and suggest limiting consumption of certain ultra-processed foods with long-term health in mind. “Future studies are needed to improve the classification of ultra-processed foods and confirm our findings in other populations,” the researchers say.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
