Eating ultra-processed foods (UPFs) like sugary cereals, microwave meals and fizzy drinks could be hammering your mental health and boosting the odds of heart-related death, a study warns.
Researchers are calling for action to reduce exposure to UPFs in a bid to safeguard our wellbeing.These foodstuffs often pack higher levels of fat, sugar and salt, not to mention a cocktail of chemicals, dyes, sweeteners and preservatives designed to keep them fresh longer.
A sweeping review by Aussie scholars sifted through 14 studies from the past three years linking UPFs with dodgy health outcomes.The research encompassed nearly 10 million folks, drawing on UPF exposure data gleaned from dietary surveys and eating habits.
The academics rated the evidence across categories from convincing to none.The findings are stark: "convincing" evidence points to a 50% spike in cardiovascular death risk for high UPF consumers, alongside a 12% jump in type 2 diabetes risk, and a 48-53% surge in anxiety likelihood.