New research shows that eating ultra-processed foods, even vegan ones, increases the risk of dying from a heart attack. Researchers from the University of São Paulo and Imperial College London studied the diets of more than 118,000 Britons aged 40 to 69.
Prepackaged foods and ready-to-eat products are problematic because they contain colors, emulsifiers, flavors and other additives. These ultra-processed (UTF) foods are high in sugar, saturated fat and salt. On the other hand, they are poor in vitamins and dietary fiber.
A balanced diet is essentially composed of plants. However, it mainly includes fresh products such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains and legumes. If TUEs are regularly found on the plate, it is harmful to health.
The team of researchers found that increasing consumption of plant-based foods leads to increased consumption of TUEs. This results in an increase in deaths caused by cardiovascular diseases. Particularly because of the consumption of meat alternatives.
“The composition and processing methods of TUEs can lead to an increase in blood pressure and cholesterol levels,” explains study leader Fernanda Rauber. Food additives and industrial pollutants are also likely to cause oxidative stress and inflammation and intensify risks.
According to Fernanda Rauber, people who switch to a plant-based diet must therefore also take into account the degree of processing before making their choice.
Fernanda Rauber’s colleague, Dr. Eszter Vamos, co-author of the study, draws attention to misleading marketing and the fact that plant products are considered healthy by the general public. “This large-scale study reveals that ultra-processed plant foods do not appear to have a protective effect and are even associated with adverse health effects,” she explains.
The published study is the first to demonstrate that vegan TUEs increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Because of their findings, the authors call for dietary guidelines that encourage a vegan diet to also contain a warning to avoid TUEs.
The study also shows that replacing ultra-processed vegan foods with whole foods reduces cases of death caused by cardiovascular diseases by 15% and reduces the probability of developing cardiovascular diseases by 7%. A plant-based diet based on fresh foods therefore has notable benefits for health and the environment.
