Study Links 100 Grams of Ultra-Processed Food a Day to 14% Higher Heart Risk

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 23

Nearly 8.8 million adults in a new analysis were tracked for two to 32 years, and each additional 100 grams of ultra-processed food a day was tied to higher risks of chronic disease and death.
That daily increase was associated with a 14% higher risk of cardiovascular events, a 4% higher cancer risk, a 3% higher risk of death from any cause and a 2% higher risk of metabolic syndrome or diabetes.
People with the highest ultra-processed food intake also showed higher risks of digestive disease, depression or anxiety, obesity, cancer and cardiovascular events than those with the lowest intake.
Researchers and an outside dietitian said the findings support replacing packaged snacks, sugary drinks and processed meats with minimally processed foods such as fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts and whole grains.
The study was observational and relied on self-reported diets, so it shows an association rather than proving ultra-processed foods directly caused the worse health outcomes.