Study links heavily processed foods to risk of earlier death
French research involved more than 44,000 people over a period of seven years
Sarah Boseley Health editor
Mon 11 Feb 2019 16.33 GMT
Eating a lot of heavily processed foods is linked to a risk of earlier death, according to a study.

A team in France worked with more than 44,000 people in a study running from 2009 called NutriNet-Santé. They looked at how much of their diet – and calories – was made up of “ultra-processed” foods – those made in factories with industrial ingredients and additives, such as dried ready meals, cakes and biscuits.

Over seven years of follow-up, there were 602 deaths, of which 219 were from cancer and 34 from cardiovascular disease. The research, published in the journal Jama Internal Medicine, found that deaths were more likely to occur in those who ate more ultra-processed food.

The link was clear even after taking into account the greater likelihood of deprivation, smoking, obesity and lower educational background among those who ate ultra-processed food, the researchers say.

Ultra-processed foods tend to be high in sugar, salt and saturated fat. France consumes less of such packaged foods and ready meals than many other countries, at around 14% of the diet. More than half the UK diet is ultra-processed food, the Guardian revealed last year.

Other scientists were unsure whether the study proved a link between ultra-processed food and an early death, but agreed it was more evidence that a junk food diet was bad for health.

“The case against highly processed foods is mounting up, with this study adding importantly to a growing body of evidence on the health harms of ultra-processed foods,” said Prof Nita Forouhi, of the MRC Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge. She said more evidence was needed, “yet we would ignore these findings at public health’s peril”.

“A vital takeaway message is that consumption of highly processed foods reflects social inequalities – they are consumed disproportionately more by individuals with lower incomes or education levels, or those living alone,” Forouhi said.

“Such foods are attractive because they tend to be cheaper, are highly palatable due to high sugar, salt and saturated fat content, are widely available, highly marketed, ready to eat, and their use-by dates are lengthy, so they last longer. More needs to be done to address these inequalities.”

Other scientists said it was difficult to draw firm conclusions from the study, partly because the “ultra-processed” foods category was so large, ranging from packet soups to chocolate bars.

“This is a large, carefully conducted prospective study of healthy middle-aged and older French people, in which a statistically significant association between death from any cause and a relatively higher consumption of ‘ultra-processed foods’ has been identified,” said Dr Ian Johnson, nutrition researcher and Emeritus Fellow at the Quadram Institute Bioscience.

“To put things into perspective, although the risk of dying over the seven-year period of investigation was about 15% higher among those consuming more of these foods, the background risk across the whole group was low.”
https://www.theguardian.com/society/201 ... lier-death

Well, duh.

I don’t believe that. Trump can afford the best food but he eats mcDs burgers everyday and even serves it to his guests in the White House.

RickyBobby wrote: ↑Wed Feb 13, 2019 12:22 am Well, duh.

Indeed. Who would have thought that food made up primarily of salt, sugar, coloring, flavor enhancers and numerous additives could be unhealthy?

hanno wrote: ↑Wed Feb 13, 2019 4:42 am

RickyBobby wrote: ↑Wed Feb 13, 2019 12:22 am Well, duh.

Indeed. Who would have thought that food made up primarily of salt, sugar, coloring, flavor enhancers and numerous additives could be unhealthy?

I avoid all processed foods at all costs. You don't know whats in it. Real fruits, vegetables and meats, and animal fats are where its at. If it comes in a box or a package forget it.

DrRawBlueGreen wrote: ↑Wed Feb 13, 2019 12:50 am I don’t believe that. Trump can afford the best food but he eats mcDs burgers everyday and even serves it to his guests in the White House.

I don't know about that, but Fast Foods and Processed foods are two separate categories. Equally detrimental to my own health, but to each their own.

RickyBobby wrote: ↑Wed Feb 13, 2019 5:03 am

hanno wrote: ↑Wed Feb 13, 2019 4:42 am

RickyBobby wrote: ↑Wed Feb 13, 2019 12:22 am Well, duh.

Indeed. Who would have thought that food made up primarily of salt, sugar, coloring, flavor enhancers and numerous additives could be unhealthy?

I avoid all processed foods at all costs. You don't know whats in it. Real fruits, vegetables and meats, and animal fats are where its at. If it comes in a box or a package forget it.

Admittedly, some of my food still comes in boxes and cartons. Milk certainly, don't have a room for a cow, chocolate (my big weakness) and a few other things. But agreed, I avoid processed foods wherever I can and certainly do not eat anything "instant" or fast food (in the classical sense, I like Asian fast food).

chocolate
theobroma cacao
food of the gods
similar nutritional profile to milk when raw
nice to process the cocoa nibs for yourself
very fruity

I like how flb types out his posts in Haiku.

Brody wrote: ↑Wed Feb 13, 2019 8:09 am I like how flb types out his posts in Haiku.

I'd need gavinmac to confirm my theory, but he's possibly The Donald in disguise...

He's is not going into Ukraine, OK
just so you understand.
He’s not gonna go into Ukraine, all right?
You can mark it down.
You can put it down

I’m speaking with myself,
number one
because I have a very good brain
and I’ve said a lot of things.

I'll tell you, it's Big Business.
If there is one word to describe Atlantic City
it's Big Business
Or two words—Big Business

When Mexico sends its people
they're not sending their best
They're sending people that have lots of problems
they're bringing drugs,
they're bringing crime.
They're rapists.

There may be somebody with tomatoes in the audience
If you see somebody getting ready to throw a tomato
knock the crap out of them
would you? Seriously. Okay? Just knock the hell—I promise you, I will pay for the legal fees.