Nutrition
Ultra-processed foods and long-term health: what we know so far
Early evidenceStudy published Feb 2024 · 4 min read
The takeaway
Eating more ultra-processed foods is linked to higher risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and depression.
Why this matters to you
These foods make up over half of calories in some countries.
What the researchers did
An 'umbrella review' summarised 45 earlier analyses covering nearly 10 million people.
What they found
- Strongest links were with heart-related deaths, anxiety and type 2 diabetes.
How strong is the evidence?
Many links found, but definitions vary and most evidence is observational.
What this does NOT mean
- Not every packaged food is unhealthy.
- It does not prove these foods directly cause disease.
Questions to ask your doctor
- Which everyday swaps would make the biggest difference for me?
Science Decoded is open access.
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