Surprising new study reveals some ultra-processed foods could be GOOD for you!
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Disclaimer: This article cannot be considered medical advice. Remember to consult with your doctor before making any changes to your diet.
For years, ultra-processed foods like pizzas, sugary cereals, and ready-to-eat meals have been seen as unhealthy choices linked to rising rates of obesity and chronic diseases.
But a major global study recently revealed that some ultra-processed products could be good for our health!
Published in The Lancet, the study, which spanned seven European countries, said that bread and cereals, being ultra-processed foods (UPF), could reduce the risk of developing cancer, heart diseases, and diabetes. This is because of their high fibre content.
UPFs are foods that undergo a multitude of processes including hydrogenation, extrusion, and moulding and pre-processing for frying to imitate qualities usually seen in minimally processed foods.
The study analysed the dietary history and health of 266,666 people. As a result, a more detailed picture was uncovered of exactly which ultra-processed foods help versus what harms our health.
The study said sauces, spreads, and condiments were also bad for human health but not as harmful as animal products and soft drinks.
Other types of UPF that were steered clear of being harmful include desserts and sweets, ready-made meals, savoury snacks, and plant-based meat alternatives. The study said they are ‘not associated with risk of multimorbidity’.
Multimorbidity happens when someone is diagnosed with at least two life-threatening diseases at the same time, like cancer and heart disease.
The study added that regarding all UPF products as bad for health is undue.
That said, this new study still concluded that UPFs harm human health, and would potentially make someone suffer from a fatal event—such as stroke or heart attack—if they consume a lot of it.
‘In this multinational European prospective cohort study, we found that higher consumption of UPF was associated with a higher risk of multimorbidity of cancer and cardiometabolic diseases,’ the authors of the study said.
They added that people who want to lower their risk of these conditions should replace some UPF in their diet with ‘similar but less processed foods…for the prevention of cancer and cardiometabolic multimorbidity,’ or follow the Mediterranean diet.
Heinz Freisling, co-author of the paper and expert at the World Health Organization’s cancer research agency IARC said, 'Our study emphasises that it is not necessary to completely avoid ultra-processed foods; rather, their consumption should be limited, and preference be given to fresh or minimally processed foods.'
Reynalda Cordova, who was in charge of the study and works at both IARC and the University of Vienna, believed that the research showed that fresh and less-processed foods should be accessible to consumers.
Dr Ian Johnson, a nutrition researcher and emeritus at the Quadram Institute, stated that the study opened our eyes to the types of UPF that were and were not harmful.
‘These observations do suggest a role for some UPF in the onset of multiple chronic disease. But they also show that the common assumption that all UPF foods are linked to adverse health events is probably wrong,’ he said.
Senior lecturer Dr Duane Mellor of Aston University’s medical school agreed and said, ‘The concept of ultra-processed foods is too broad.’
In a similar study, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) unveiled a seven-day meal plan that surprisingly featured ultra-processed foods. Using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI), the ultra-processed menu plan scored 86 out of 100, with 91 per cent of the calories derived from UPF. This outweighed the score of the average American diet, which was 59.
Members, do note that we are not medical professionals, and this article should not be considered as medical advice. It is important to consult with your doctor before making any changes to your diet.
What do you think of the study? Do you agree that not all UPFs are harmful to health? Let us know in the comments below!
For years, ultra-processed foods like pizzas, sugary cereals, and ready-to-eat meals have been seen as unhealthy choices linked to rising rates of obesity and chronic diseases.
But a major global study recently revealed that some ultra-processed products could be good for our health!
Published in The Lancet, the study, which spanned seven European countries, said that bread and cereals, being ultra-processed foods (UPF), could reduce the risk of developing cancer, heart diseases, and diabetes. This is because of their high fibre content.
UPFs are foods that undergo a multitude of processes including hydrogenation, extrusion, and moulding and pre-processing for frying to imitate qualities usually seen in minimally processed foods.
The study analysed the dietary history and health of 266,666 people. As a result, a more detailed picture was uncovered of exactly which ultra-processed foods help versus what harms our health.
The study highlighted that some UPFs like breads and cereals are beneficial to health. Credit: Unsplash
The study said sauces, spreads, and condiments were also bad for human health but not as harmful as animal products and soft drinks.
Other types of UPF that were steered clear of being harmful include desserts and sweets, ready-made meals, savoury snacks, and plant-based meat alternatives. The study said they are ‘not associated with risk of multimorbidity’.
Multimorbidity happens when someone is diagnosed with at least two life-threatening diseases at the same time, like cancer and heart disease.
The study added that regarding all UPF products as bad for health is undue.
That said, this new study still concluded that UPFs harm human health, and would potentially make someone suffer from a fatal event—such as stroke or heart attack—if they consume a lot of it.
‘In this multinational European prospective cohort study, we found that higher consumption of UPF was associated with a higher risk of multimorbidity of cancer and cardiometabolic diseases,’ the authors of the study said.
They added that people who want to lower their risk of these conditions should replace some UPF in their diet with ‘similar but less processed foods…for the prevention of cancer and cardiometabolic multimorbidity,’ or follow the Mediterranean diet.
Heinz Freisling, co-author of the paper and expert at the World Health Organization’s cancer research agency IARC said, 'Our study emphasises that it is not necessary to completely avoid ultra-processed foods; rather, their consumption should be limited, and preference be given to fresh or minimally processed foods.'
Reynalda Cordova, who was in charge of the study and works at both IARC and the University of Vienna, believed that the research showed that fresh and less-processed foods should be accessible to consumers.
Dr Ian Johnson, a nutrition researcher and emeritus at the Quadram Institute, stated that the study opened our eyes to the types of UPF that were and were not harmful.
‘These observations do suggest a role for some UPF in the onset of multiple chronic disease. But they also show that the common assumption that all UPF foods are linked to adverse health events is probably wrong,’ he said.
Senior lecturer Dr Duane Mellor of Aston University’s medical school agreed and said, ‘The concept of ultra-processed foods is too broad.’
In a similar study, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) unveiled a seven-day meal plan that surprisingly featured ultra-processed foods. Using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI), the ultra-processed menu plan scored 86 out of 100, with 91 per cent of the calories derived from UPF. This outweighed the score of the average American diet, which was 59.
Members, do note that we are not medical professionals, and this article should not be considered as medical advice. It is important to consult with your doctor before making any changes to your diet.
What do you think of the study? Do you agree that not all UPFs are harmful to health? Let us know in the comments below!
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