Ultra treated reduce our mortality rate, here's how to avoid them

It's common sense to know that processed foods are not beneficial to your health. But now, a first major global study has found a link between increased consumption of ultra-processed foods and increased risk of death over an eight-year period.

To carry out this study, researchers from Paris-Sorbonne University monitored diets and the resulting mortality of about 45,000 French middle-aged participants between 2009 and 2017. Ultra-processed foods accounted for about 14% the food intake of the participants.

The results, published in the JAMA Internal Medicine of the American Medical Association, found that each 10% increase in ultra-processed food consumption was linked to an increased risk of death by 14% over the next eight years.

Research also revealed that consumption of ultra-processed foods was badociated with a younger age, lower income, lower level of education, living alone, an index of higher body mbad and a lower level of physical activity.

The researchers point out that, although only an badociation has been found and thus does not prove that the consumption of ultra-processed foods directly causes premature death, these foods could be responsible for reducing the life span, for example. example by increasing the risk of heart disease. , cancer and other diseases.

Ultra treated vs. treated: what's the difference?

According to the study, ultra-processed foods are those that contain five or more ingredients, are manufactured in a variety of industrial processes and may contain certain ingredients – for example, oils, dyes or hydrogenated flavor enhancers – that it is not found in others. processed foods.

The NOVA Food Clbadification System – a research, policy and action tool for nutrition and public health used in the study – lists the most common ultra-processed foods. These included:

• Soft drinks
• Sweet or salty snacks
• Ice cream
• Candy (confectionery)
• Butter and other fat spreads
• Biscuits, pastries and cakes
• Cereal bars
• Fruit flavored drinks
• Cocoa drinks
• Meat and chicken extracts
• "Instant" sauces
• "Health" and "slimming" products such as meal replacements and "powdered" or "enriched" dishes
• Pies, pasta and pizzas prepared
• "Nuggets" and "sticks" of poultry and fish
• Sausages
• Hamburgers
• Hot dogs
• Soups, noodles and "instant" desserts in powder and packaged

According to some NOVA reports, "the formulation and ingredients of these products make them very convenient (ready to eat), very attractive (high-palatability), very cost-effective (inexpensive ingredients) and, very importantly, highly competitive. with naturally ready-to-eat foods and freshly prepared dishes and dishes. "

A CSIRO report revealed that an average Australian man consumes 23.9 servings of unhealthy foods each week and that women consume 17.1 servings. This exceeds the average maximum recommendation of 0 to 2.5 services per day.