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 foods that are highly processed are connected to heart disease, colorectal cancer, and early death

— Boston When it comes to a healthy diet, junk food is without a doubt a poor choice. But a recent study shows how harmful consuming "ultra-processed" foods is, discovering a higher risk of cancer, heart disease, and early mortality.

Researchers from Tufts University and Italy compared the consumption of highly processed meals by 46,341 men and 159,907 women to cancer statistics gathered from several studies. According to research published in The BMJ, there is conclusive evidence that eating a lot of ultra-processed foods raises your chance of developing heart disease, colon cancer, and even an early death.

Sugary drinks, potato chips, candy bars, fast food, and even breakfast cereals are some of the most popular "ultra-processed" items.

A 29 percent higher risk of colon cancer was seen in men who consumed the most ultra-processed foods (top 20 percent). Even after accounting for lifestyle factors like smoking and body mass index (BMI), that number remained high.

Junk food may increase the risk of heart disease by 30%.

According to a second study that was examined in the most recent BMJ findings, persons who consumed the most ultra-processed meals and drinks had a 19% higher risk of passing away from any disease. They had a 32% higher risk of passing away from cardiovascular disease.

Ultra-processed foods were referred to as "industrial formulations with five or more ingredients" by a group of Brazilian researchers in 2009. White bread, fried chicken, and energy drinks are more examples of these items.

In all of the investigations, persons with exceptionally high intakes of ultra-processed foods had cardiovascular death rates that were over a fifth higher. People who consumed more ultra-processed meals than usual had much higher incidences of colorectal cancer and even breast cancer.

Unprocessed or minimally processed foods, on the other hand, are characterized as "whole foods with the vitamins and nutrients are still intact...may be minimally altered by removal of inedible parts, drying, crushing, roasting, boiling, freezing or pasteurization to make suitable to store and safe to consume" by the Harvard Medical School.

This research is by no means the first to link processed foods and drinks to higher health risks. Multiple correlations between eating ultra-processed foods and overall breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer diagnoses were discovered in a 2018 European dietary analysis of more than 104,000 individuals. According to that study, a 10-percent increase in ultra-processed food consumption was associated with a 10-percent increase in individuals' overall risk for breast cancer.

Researchers contend in an editorial that no "reasonable person prefers foods that cause sickness." They propose making fresh food supply more accessible, alluring, and affordable. "If implemented, this will improve public health. In addition, it will benefit communities, businesses, and the environment, the researchers write in a press statement.

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