Ultraprocessed foods linked to risk of early death

It’s no secret ultraprocessed foods can be detrimental to your health, but they can also increase your risk of early death, according to a new report.

Researchers from health institutions in France recently conducted a study to determine the relationship between overall mortality risk and the consumption of ultraprocessed food.

They defined ultraprocessed foods as those “manufactured industrially from multiple ingredients that usually include additives used for technological and/ or cosmetic purposes. Ultraprocessed foods are mostly consumed in the form of snacks, desserts or ready-to-eat or -heat meals.”

For the assessment, the analysts examined nearly 45,000 adults aged 45 and older for two years. Researchers found ultraprocessed foods made up more than 14 percent of the weight of total food consumed and 29 percent of the total calories consumed.

Ultraprocessed foods were associated with younger age, lower income, lower educational level, living alone, higher body mass index and lower physical activity level.

Furthermore, they calculated a 14 percent higher risk of early death for each 10 percent increase of ultraprocessed foods consumed. A total of 602 deaths occurred during the course of the study.

Scientists believe the additives, packaging and processing of such foods could all be factors that negatively impact our health.