For example, processed meats and sugary foods and drinks are not correlated with the same risks as ultra-processed whole grains, lead study author Dr. Mingyang Song, associate professor of epidemiology, told CNN clinical and nutrition studies at Harvard’s TH Chan School of Public Health.
The Ultra-Processed Foods Study was conducted from 1986 to 2018 and includes analysis of data from more than 100,000 healthcare professionals in the United States. The profiles studied had no history of cancer, cardiovascular disease or diabetes.
Study participants were asked to complete a detailed dietary questionnaire every four years.
According to the results of the study, the group that ate the least ultra-processed foods consumed an average of three servings per day while the group that ate the most consumed an average of seven servings per day.
The risk of death — from all causes — was 4% higher among people who ate the most ultra-processed foods.
Dr. Song called the correlation “moderate,” noting that the link was not as strong among all types of ultra-processed foods. “The positive association is primarily driven by a few subgroups, including processed meat and artificially sweetened or sweetened beverages,” he told CNN.
It is also the specific analysis of these different subgroups which makes this new study unique compared to the other studies – numerous – carried out over the years.
Should we ban all ultra-processed foods?
According to Dr. Song, there’s no need to completely reject all ultra-processed foods, “as it’s a diverse category.”
“Cereals, wholemeal bread, for example, are also considered ultra-processed foods, but they contain various beneficial nutrients such as fiber, vitamins and minerals,” he told CNN.
On the other hand, Dr. Song advises people to avoid or at least limit their consumption of certain ultra-processed foods, such as processed meat, sugar-sweetened drinks, and potentially artificially sweetened drinks.
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Obviously, the study does not completely shed light on the impacts of ultra-processed foods on people’s health, questions remain. “The recent study is robust because of the time period covered, but it is an observational study. This means that while researchers can see a correlation, they cannot say that food is the cause of the deaths,” Dr. Peter Wilde, a member of the Quadram Institute Bioscience in the United Kingdom, told CNN.
Dr. Song, for his part, believes that researchers also need to look a little more closely at the components of ultra-processed foods that could affect health — whether they are food additives, emulsifiers or flavorings — to advise governments and institutions on how to regulate foods.
Researchers also found that the most important factor in reducing the risk of death is the quality of a person’s overall diet, Dr. Song told CNN. “If people eat a generally healthy diet, I don’t think they need to be afraid or worried,” he said. “The overall dietary pattern remains the predominant factor determining health outcomes.”
Dr. Wilde agrees, saying that you should choose a healthy and varied diet, with as many colorful fruits and vegetables and whole grains as possible.
Dr. Wilde also believes that people should pay a little more attention to the nutritional content of ultra-processed foods and should understand that foods should be consumed in a balanced way. “Fruit juices contain beneficial vitamins, minerals and antioxidants when consumed in moderation, but if consumed in too large quantities, they contain high levels of sugar which can negate their benefits,” a- he explained to CNN. “It’s not all black or white.”
