Evidence linking processed foods to serious health problems such as cancer, and even death, continues to grow. A couple of studies release...
Evidence linking processed foods to serious health problems such as cancer, and even death, continues to grow.
A couple of studies released Wednesday exposes the dangers of eating a lot of food items like hot dogs soda, cheese puffs, or french fries.
The study that first examined more than 24,000 adults living in Italy discovered that those who ate processed food items in large amounts had an increased risk of death generally, and death from heart disease specifically in comparison to those who ate fewer meals that fell into this category.
The second study tracked more than 200 000 U.S. health care workers during a time span of between 24 and 28 years. The study discovered that men who ate large amounts of food that was processed (more than nine servings daily on average had a 29% increased chance of developing colorectal cancer than those who consumed around three servings per day.
Fang Fang Zhang, the lead author of the second study and Associate Professor at Tufts University, said the group that had the highest intake of foods that are processed in a way, probably got approximately 80 percent in their calories daily from these foods. According to the U.S. average is around 57 percent.
The study could not establish any link between the consumption of processed foods and colorectal cancer among women, although researchers aren't certain what the reason. One hypothesis is that estrogen levels higher may confer a protection, Zhang said. However, this could be an aberration, as the majority of risk factors for cancer of the colorectal are the same for males and females.
Research has previously connected ultra-processed food items to the risk of higher cholesterol as well as obesity, diabetes cognitive decline, breast cancer , and cancer generally.
Foods that are considered "ultra-processed" contain more artificial ingredients than foods that are simply processed with sugar, salt, or oil. Ultra-processed food items typically contain very small quantities of whole ingredients. They also contain colorings, flavorings or other ingredients. Condiments, microwaveable meals as well as packaged doughnuts, Ice cream, as an example all fall under this classification.
"It's sort of an attempt to get a definition of junk food, which I think we all sort of know when we see it," said Walter Willett, a professor of nutrition and epidemiology in the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health who was not part of the study.
Since the rectum and colon is "on the frontlines of our diet" because they are part of our digestion system Willett declared, "colorectal cancer seems to be more directly related to diet than most other cancers."
The rate of colorectal cancer has risen among younger adults in recent decades. A study by the American Cancer Society found that the incidence of colon cancer has been increasing annually in people aged 20-39 since the mid-1980s. The proportion of cancers caused by rectal in individuals under the age of 55 increased between 1989 and 1990 to 2012-2013.
"Diet is probably playing a role in the increase in obesity that we continue to see, and we know that obesity is associated with colorectal cancer and other cancers as well," Caroline Um who is a principal researcher at the American Cancer Society, said. "We're seeing more young adults being obese [and] having things related to obesity, such as diabetes and metabolic syndrome."
But, the latest study of health professionals discovered that processed foods were associated with cancer of the colon for men, independent from their weight index.
The study suggests that food additives made of chemical or the packaging of packaged foods may be a factor in the recent trend. Most processed meats contain preservatives and nitrites as well as nitrates which could increase the risk of cancer.
"Red and processed meat has been shown to pretty much consistently increase the risk of colorectal cancer," Zhang stated.
The study showed processed meat products such as salami, hot dogs, and sausages, aswell drinks sweetened with sugar, were specifically associated with the risk of colorectal cancer in males.
The Italian study found similarly that nutritional quality issues which is defined as an imbalance of fiber, sugar, and fat was not the reason for the correlation of foods that are processed in a high-quality way with higher death rates. Marialaura Bonaccio, who was the study's co-author, suggested that chemical additives are likely to contribute to the negative health outcomes seen.
"Diet Coke can be rated as nutritionally good -- for example, sugar-free Diet Coke because it has no sugar -- but that Coke is not even a food," she explained. "It's a combination of chemicals."
The study by Bonaccio proposes labeling food items according to the degree of processing, and also their nutritional value in order to assist people in making healthier choices. Some experts suggest that the change won't affect those most vulnerable.
"A labeling policy sometimes works for people who have a high level education or income because they pay attention to labels or know how to read the labels," Zhang stated. But , they may not be efficient for those who are less well-off She added that these communities tend to consume more processed foods as they are typically inexpensive easy to make as well as last longer the shelves.
In general, Willett said, "processed meat should be eaten rarely, sugar-sweetened beverage consumption should be occasional at most [and] foods high in saturated fat should be kept low."
Yet, some foods that are highly processed are better than other foods. Cereals for breakfast and whole-grain breads, for example, are sources of fiber in the diet which can reduce the risk of developing heart cancer or heart disease.
Scientists aren't yet able to pinpoint the exact amount of food consumed that is ultra-processed and poses an health risk.
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