Processed foods can make you gain weight: study

Consuming more ultra-processed foods than poorly processed foods can lead to weight gain, increased risk of cancer and premature death, said Maryland researchers.

A new study by a team of experts from the National Institutes of Health (NHA) looked in more detail at the effects of consuming more ultra-processed foods than food little processed.

Previous studies of how ultra-processed foods can lead to weight gain depend on participants' ability to remember the foods they have eaten, which is often difficult for most people.

By closely following the participants' diets, the new study helped researchers distinguish the effects of both types of foods as they occurred in real time.

Here's how ultra-processed foods can generate weight gain

For the study, the researchers provided daily meals to a group of 10 women and 10 men, provided that participants live at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, for 28 days.

During the first 14 days, half of the participants ate what was called an "ultra-processed diet", consisting of foods such as canned chicken chicken salad, turkey bacon, yogurt Greek sweet, baked potato chips and cream cheese bagels.

The other half of the group received a poorly processed diet consisting of whole fruits and vegetables, meat and fish, nuts, oats and eggs. After 14 days, the participants changed their diet.

The results were that people who ate processed foods took 2 kilos while those who ate a minimum of processed foods lost 2 kilos.

The weight gain is not solely due to the salt, calories or fat contained in the diets. The researchers explained that the two diets contained the same amount of sugar, fat, calories, fiber, protein and carbohydrates, but that everything depended on whoever was consuming more fat and carbohydrates and eating faster.

"We found that people ate on average more than 500 calories a day on the ultra-processed diet, they gained weight and fattened the body," said Kevin Hall, lead author of the study.

The blood tests performed on the participants also revealed that those who ate low-processed foods carried traces of a hormone called PYY, which reassured people, and less of a hormone called ghrelin, which boosted the # 39; s appetite.

Meanwhile, the results of the new study were published in the journal Cell metabolism.

Ultra-processed foods are linked to cancer risk and premature death

Previous studies have shown that consuming ultra-processed foods is associated with a higher risk of developing cancer.

Parisian researchers have discovered that a 10% increase in ultra-processed food consumption increases the number of cancer cases by 12%. They examined foods such as ultra-processed fats and sauces, as well as sugary drinks.

Another study in France examined the effects of ultra-processed foods on 44,551 participants aged 57 years on average. In this study, experts found that ultra-processed foods accounted for over 29% of total calories consumed by participants.

During the study, approximately 602 deaths were reported. Of these, 219 were cancer-related deaths, while 34 were related to cardiovascular disease.

What are the healthier alternatives to ultra-processed foods?

People have shown that it is possible to move away from ultra-processed foods. Charlotte's Lisa Leake completely changed her family's diet in 2010 and eliminated ultra-processed foods at their dinner table.

Leake, who wrote a book titled "100 Days of Real Food on a Budget," said that several days after she changed diets, she and her husband had lost 5 pounds without trying, had more energy and had a higher level of good cholesterol.

Cereals, sauces, bread, salad dressings and cheese are healthier alternatives to ultra-processed foods. Leake said the best thing to do is plan meals, read ingredient labels and choose those that contain five ingredients or less.

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