The matter in summary A new umbrella study has analyzed 14 large articles and found that a high intake of ultra-processed food increases the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease by 50 per cent. The study, which included nearly 10 million people, found that such foods were associated with an increased risk of 32 serious health conditions. Ultra-processed food is often high in sugar, fat and salt, but low in vitamins and fibre, and can account for up to 58 per cent of the total daily energy intake in certain countries. The researchers believe the findings support the need for public health interventions to minimize the consumption of this type of food globally. Other health problems that can arise from high consumption of such food can be lack of sleep, obesity, cancer, asthma, anxiety and common mental disorders. The researchers propose measures such as the development of a UN regulatory framework similar to that for tobacco, a ban on the sale of such foodstuffs near schools and hospitals, and the labeling of ultra-processed food. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. A diet consisting of a lot of ultra-processed food can be harmful to many of the body’s systems. This is the opinion of researchers who have now carried out 45 meta-analyses of 14 large articles. All have been produced within the last three years. The new umbrella study includes close to 10 million people and will be the largest and most thorough ever conducted. And the findings show, among other things, that a high intake of ultra-processed food increases the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease by as much as 50 per cent. Overall, the researchers found that such food was associated with an increased risk of 32 unwanted and serious health conditions. Ultra-processed food Industrial bread and pastries: Industrial bread Hamburger bread Cakes Biscuits Donuts Other pastries containing flavourings, hydrogenated oils and colourings. Breakfast cereals: Cheerios Weetabix Cornflakes Similar products made from corn. Also includes muesli and granola mixes with added flavor enhancers, preservatives or other industrial ingredients. Meat and milk substitutes: Beyond burger and equivalent Soya milk Oat milk Almond milk Rice milk Sugary snacks: Chocolate Soda (also sugar-free) Ice cream Snacks Ice cream Desserts Meat, fish and dairy products Salami Bacon (in some cases) Fish sticks Crabsticks Caviar Tube/cream cheese (in some cases ) Protein powder Margarine Sources: NOVA/ Idunn Some of the ultra-processed food we eat too much goes through several industrial processes. They often contain colors, emulsifiers, flavors and other additives. These products also tend to be high in sugar, fat and salt, but low in vitamins and fibre. Such food can account for up to 58 percent of the total daily energy intake in certain countries, the researchers write. Especially in countries where income is high. But consumption has also increased rapidly in poorer countries. Previous studies have also shown that heavily processed food can lead to poor health. The new review nevertheless contributes to a broader assessment of the field, the researchers believe. They say the findings support the need for measures in public health, and that this type of food should be minimized among people all over the world. Four degrees of food processing Photo: Oddgeir Øystese / news 1. Unprocessed and minimally processed food Raw materials and unprocessed food where the nutrients are intact. Minimal processing may have been done, such as crushing, cooking or drying the food. Inedible parts may have been removed. The food may also have been pasteurized. Examples of foodstuffs: Fresh meat, eggs, milk, cheese, fruit and vegetables, unsalted nuts, whole cards and legumes. 2. Processed culinary ingredients Foods that have undergone a greater degree of processing, but are still categorized as relatively unprocessed. The processing methods are pressing, grinding, drying and refining. Examples of foodstuffs: Cooking oil, salt, sugar, honey and butter. 3. Processed food Food that is produced by mixing food from categories 1 and 2. The processing in this category increases the durability of the product. The processing methods are canning, salting, pickling, curing and smoking. Examples of foods: Salted nuts, smoked or salted meat and fish, tinned fruit and vegetables, bread products and some cheeses. 4. Ultra-processed food Food that is produced through several industrial techniques and processes. These foods rarely consist of whole other foods, but of parts of them. For example protein, sugar, oil or fibre. Techniques such as extraction, casting and pre-roasting. Preferably with added colour, aroma and other additives to make the food tastier. Examples of food products: Sweets, crisps, soft drinks, biscuits, pre-baked cakes and cake mixes. Margarine, soups, pasta, noodles, cheese and fast food such as pizza, sausages and chicken nuggets. Source: Matprat.no Must understand the connections Simon Nitter Dankel is professor of nutrition at the University of Bergen. He believes the new research is useful. – The findings are at least as clear and convincing as other ways of classifying food, he says to news. Both degree and purpose are important when talking about ultra-processed food, explains the professor. By the word purpose, he means that the processing is done to increase sales and earnings. – This comes at the expense of nutritional quality. Potato chips are ultra-processed. Other examples of foods that end up in the same category are soft drinks, sweets, margarine and artificial drinks. Photo: Simon Skjelvik Brandseth / news It is now important that we gain more insight into what lies behind the connections. One should find out which factors cause the various diseases to occur, explains Dankel. He himself questions whether it is the actual degradation of the original raw materials that is the problem. Or is it the use of the various substances that are added to the food? Maybe the marketing is part of the problem. Dankel believes that this topic should be looked at in the same way as smoking and other addictive products. – Far clearer guidelines are needed from the authorities for what is okay and what is not okay to do with food. We have accepted far too many changes which now turn out to have strong links with modern diseases. He goes on to say that the measures we have had to change the diet in recent decades have not worked well enough. – We must take this research very seriously. Simon E. Nitter Dankel is professor of nutrition at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Bergen. Photo: Gerd Johanne Braadland / news Cancer, asthma and sleep problems Other findings the researchers made through their analyzes were the following: When consuming a lot of ultra-processed food, there was a 48-53 per cent higher risk of anxiety and common mental disorders. They also found that you had a 12 percent increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The food is also associated with an increased risk (21 percent) of death from any cause. Other health problems that can arise from high consumption of such food can be lack of sleep, obesity, cancer and asthma. The researchers are clear that the study can only provide an overview of the topic. They cannot rule out that other factors and variations that have not been measured in this research affect the results. The study cannot therefore directly prove that cause and effect are connected. However, several emphasize that the methods used are solid and that the quality of the work is good. Want the UN to get involved The researchers propose a number of measures that should be implemented in order to reduce the intake of ultra-processed food in the world. They believe, among other things, that the UN must step in to develop a set of regulations similar to the one we have for tobacco. They also propose a ban on the sale of such foodstuffs near schools and hospitals. The researchers also believe that labeling food that is ultra-processed would be a good idea. Another study, which was recently published, suggests something of the same. Here, researchers have found that more than 9,000 heart-related deaths in England can be prevented over the next two decades if rules are introduced. These rules should, according to the researchers, mean that all restaurants, fast food restaurants, cafes, pubs and the like label their menus with how many calories the various meals contain.
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Finds that ultra-processed food can be linked to over 30 serious health conditions – news Trøndelag – Local news, TV and radio
