A recent study of over 400,000 Europeans has found that eating ready meals and other ultra-processed foods (UPFs) increases the risk of death from three major killers: Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and heart attacks. Those who consumed above-average levels of UPF were 23% more likely to die from Parkinson’s, while junk food eaters had a 10% lower chance of surviving a stroke.
However, replacing just 10% of UPF intake with unprocessed foods like fruit and vegetables reduced the risk of death by 6%. The study also found that consuming UPFs raised the risk of early death by 4%, regardless of underlying condition.
The researchers suggest that promoting consumption of minimally processed foods and discouraging highly processed foods in dietary recommendations may be beneficial for health. UPFs, which are typically packed with salt, sugar, and industrial additives, undergo multiple industrial processes that can damage gut health and increase blood sugar levels.
Countries with the highest average intake of UPFs, such as Norway, the UK, and Germany, saw significant increases in risk of death from these three major killers. In contrast, countries like France and Spain had lower UPF consumption rates.
While the study’s findings are observational, they suggest that reducing UPF intake could have a positive impact on health. Further research is needed to understand the specific effects of UPFs on human health.
Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-14270743/Eating-ready-meals-23-cent-likely-die-study.html