Why we should focus on whole foods
A Recent Comprehensive Umbrella Review Published In the BMJ links Ultra-processed Foods to Multiple Poor Health Outcomes
Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) have become increasingly common in the United States and are now linked to poor health outcomes. A comprehensive review published in the British Medical Journal in February 2024 analyzed 45 separate studies, involving 9,888,373 participants, to investigate this link.
The review used NOVA's food classification system to define UPFs as "industrial formulations primarily composed of chemically modified substances, extracted from foods, along with additives to taste, texture, appearance, and durability with minimal to no inclusions of whole foods."
UPFs lack essential nutrients like fiber and polyphenols found in fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. They are also high in calories, saturated fats, and excess sugar. These factors make UPFs a perfect storm for negative health outcomes.
The review found that UPFs are directly linked to cardiovascular disease mortality, common mental disorders, adverse sleep conditions, obesity and overweight, asthma, wheezing, low HDL, Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and type II diabetes. Moreover, these diseases are dose-dependent, meaning that the higher the exposure to UPFs, the more likely the occurrence of an adverse health outcome (Lane, M. et al. 2024).
Link to the full review below.
Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analyses https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10899807/
