Health Insider Americans get more than half their diet from ultra-processed foods, CDC confirms AP via Scripps News Group
Most Americans get more than half their calories from ultra-processed foods, those super-tasty, energy-dense foods typically full of sugar, salt and unhealthy fats, according to a new federal report. Nutrition research has shown for years that ultra-processed foods make up a big chunk of the U.S. diet, especially for kids and teens. For the first […]
Could ultra-processed foods be the new ‘silent’ killer?
From fizzy drinks to cereals and packaged snacks to processed meat, ultra-processed foods are packed with additives. Oil, fat, sugar, starch and sodium, as well as emulsifiers such as carrageenan, mono- and diglycerides, carboxymethylcellulose, polysorbate and soy lecithin continue to strip food of healthy nutrients while introducing other ingredients that could also be detrimental to […]
Ultra-processed foods largely missing from US food policy: Few federal and state policies consider ultra-processed foods, but policy activity is growing
Ultra-processed foods — including industrially produced packaged snacks, fruit-flavored drinks, and hot dogs — have been linked to health issues ranging from weight gain to certain cancers. So where are the food policies helping Americans to steer clear of these foods? A new study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine finds that only […]
Ultra-processed foods may be linked to increased risk of cancer
Higher consumption of ultra-processed foods may be linked to an increased risk of developing and dying from cancer, an Imperial College London-led observational study suggests. Researchers from Imperial’s School of Public Health have produced the most comprehensive assessment to date of the association between ultra-processed foods and the risk of developing cancers. Ultra-processed foods are […]
‘Gateway’ foods like candy, pastries and frozen treats may lead to unhealthy teen eating: New study about teen eating habits, led by a 16-year-old scientist, found ultra-processed foods may trigger additional unhealthy food choices
Certain ultra-processed foods, such as candy, pastries and frozen desserts, may be “gateway” foods for adolescents, leading them to eat higher quantities of other unhealthy foods, according to new research presented at the American Heart Association’s Hypertension Scientific Sessions 2022, Sept. 7-10, 2022 in San Diego. The meeting is the premier scientific exchange focused on […]
Ultra-Processed Foods Linked to Colorectal Cancer Risk, CV Death
Regular consumption of ultra-processed foods was associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer, all-cause mortality, and cardiovascular mortality, according to findings from two studies published in The BMJ. In the first paper, which analyzed three prospective U.S. cohort studies, men in the highest quintile of consumption had a 29% higher risk of developing colorectal […]
Eating more ultra-processed foods associated with increased risk of dementia
People who eat the highest amounts of ultra-processed foods like soft drinks, chips and cookies may have a higher risk of developing dementia than those who eat the lowest amounts, according to a new study published in the July 27, 2022, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Researchers […]
Ultraprocessed foods now comprise 2/3 of calories in children and teen diets
The calories that children and adolescents consumed from ultraprocessed foods jumped from 61% to 67% of total caloric intake from 1999 to 2018, according to a new study from researchers at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science & Policy at Tufts University. Published August 10, 2021, in JAMA, the study analyzed dietary intake from 33,795 […]
Ultra-processed food linked to higher risk of IBD: Further studies needed to identify contributory factors in processed foods that might account for these associations
A higher intake of ultra-processed food is associated with higher risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), finds a study published by The BMJ today. Ultra-processed foods include packaged baked goods and snacks, fizzy drinks, sugary cereals, ready meals containing food additives, and reconstituted meat and fish products — often containing high levels of added sugar, […]