As for ultra-processed foods, a lot of research has been published in recent years that revealed the health risks associated with their consumption, but this time researchers have added or highlighted new foods to the blacklist – they claim. They are also more dangerous than all other ultra-processed foods. As for the risk of developing type 2 diabetes…
But what foods do we throw out of our fridge and what shelves do we avoid in stores?
Salty snacks and processed foods of animal origin such as deli meats, convenience foods, and drinks sweetened with sugar or artificial sweeteners can be particularly dangerous.
The study was conducted by Published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europewhich analyzed the ultra-processed food consumption of more than 312,000 people in eight European countries over an average of 11 years.
During the study period, nearly 15,000 participants were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
This is not surprising, as the numbers show us a startling result. According to the study, every 10% increase in the consumption of processed foods increases the risk of diabetes by 17%. However, the researchers say that the risk can be reduced if people replace ultra-processed foods with natural or minimally processed foods such as eggs, milk or fruit.
The study authors divided ultra-processed foods into nine groups, some of which are particularly dangerous for diabetes: They also include salty snacks, animal products and sugary soft drinks. Meanwhile, breads, crackers, breakfast cereals, sweets and plant-based alternatives that are often criticized for their lower diabetes risk — because processed foods aren’t as bad.
For this reason, it is important to distinguish between them.
Bread and grains are staples in many people's diets, so we need to look at them differently from salty snacks or sugary drinks, for example.
“This is a very important finding,” said Rachel Batterham, lead author of the study and professor at University College London.
Obesity and type 2 diabetes are increasingly serious public health problems worldwide, and the results of this study provide further evidence that consumption of ultra-processed foods may contribute to the development of many chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease and some types of cancer.
(Cover photo: Simple Images / Getty Images Hungary)
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