Just How Bad Is It?

 

We've all heard that processed and "ultra" processed foods eventually harm our health. Whether it is bacon and lunchmeats or potato chips and white bread, processed foods play a role in obesity, hypertension, diabetes, auto-immune diseases, cancer and even mental disorders.

By definition, a processed food is simply one that’s been altered from its original form. So, unless we’re plucking apples directly off a tree or drinking milk straight from a cow, the vast majority of the foods we eat are processed. But basic preparation and preservation techniques certainly don’t turn wholesome foods (like whole grains or frozen vegetables) into “junk.” And just because something has gone through a process doesn’t mean it’s unhealthy to eat. On one end of the spectrum are unprocessed or minimally processed items, like fresh fruits, vegetables, or eggs. On the other end are ultra-processed foods, defined as “industrial formulations with five or more ingredients". In short, ultra-processed foods are probably what many of us already think of simply as processed foods — those shiny, packaged, nothing-to-do-with-nature products found at fast-food restaurants and gas station mini-marts. 

Just how bad are these ultraprocessed foods for you?

In an eight year study of over 22,000 adults published in the Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers found that a diet high in ultraprocessed foods was associated with an almost 60% higher rate of fatal heart disease and strokes over the eight year study period.

But wait! There's more!

Consuming ultraprocessed foods tended to displace healthier, more nutritious foods in the diet, leading to higher rates of obesity and diabetes. The risk of death from any cause was almost 30% higher among the ultraprocessed food consumers.

What you choose to eat is your decision, and an occasional pizza is probably not going to do you mortal harm. But a steady diet of it likely will.