Overall bad for health, ultra-processed foods increase the risk of developing an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) such as the very debilitating Crohn’s disease.
- Ultra-processed foods contain ingredients that don’t end up in the pantry. For example, additives are added to increase shelf life or to enhance flavor.
- These foods are also higher in sugar, fat and salt.
According to a new study published in the BMJultra-processed foods increase the risk of developing Crohn’s disease.
Just one serving a day is harmful
To reach these conclusions, the researchers recruited 116,087 volunteers between the ages of 35 and 70 between 2003 and 2016. During 10 years of follow-up, 467 participants developed inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (90 the disease disease and 377 ulcerative colitis). “After adjusting for potential confounders, higher consumption of ultra-processed foods was associated with a higher risk of IBD”report the scientists.
Just one serving of ultra-processed food a day can increase the risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease by 67%. A figure that rises to 82% if you eat it 5 times a day.
What are the most dangerous foods?
Different subgroups of ultra-processed foods, including soft drinks, refined sugary foods, salty snacks, and processed meat have each been associated with higher risk ratios for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. On the other hand, the consumption of white meat, red meat, dairy products, starch, fruits, vegetables and legumes was not associated with a higher incidence of IBD.
“Further studies are needed to identify risk factors among processed foods that may be responsible for the associations observed in our study,” conclude the authors of the research.
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