A novel study suggests that consuming significant amounts of ultra-processed foods may elevate the likelihood of experiencing, or dying from, a heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular ailments.
Researchers, whose findings were published in the journal JACC Advances, determined that for every extra daily serving of these highly processed items, the risk of major cardiovascular events increases by 5%.
The investigation uncovered that individuals whose average daily intake exceeded nine portions of ultra-processed foods faced a 67% higher risk of suffering a heart attack, stroke, or cardiac arrest.
“Consumption of ultra-processed foods is linked to greater cardiovascular risk, and while many such items might seem like convenient grab-and-go snacks, our data indicates they should be eaten sparingly,” commented lead author Amir Hajifar from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.
Ultra-processed foods are primarily manufactured using substances derived from whole foods, such as saturated fats, refined starches, and added sugars. Furthermore, they incorporate a wide array of additives designed to enhance palatability, visual appeal, and shelf stability.
Examples fitting this description include packaged baked goods, sugary breakfast cereals, ready-to-eat or reheat meals, and processed deli meats.
For this recent study, scientists examined data from over 6,800 adults participating in a long-term study focusing on cardiovascular disease stemming from blocked arteries. Participants completed dietary questionnaires that allowed researchers to approximate their daily intake of ultra-processed foods.
Those in the top 20% for ultra-processed food consumption averaged over nine servings daily, whereas individuals in the bottom 20% consumed approximately one serving per day.
The group eating the most ultra-processed foods demonstrated a 67% greater chance of experiencing a non-fatal heart attack, stroke, or cardiac arrest, as well as the possibility of death from cardiovascular disease or stroke.
“We controlled for numerous variables in this research,” stated Hajifar. “Regardless of daily caloric intake, irrespective of overall diet quality, and after accounting for common risk factors like diabetes, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, and obesity, the risk associated with higher consumption of ultra-processed foods remained largely consistent.”
Overall, each additional serving of ultra-processed food correlated with a 5% escalation in cardiovascular disease risk.
While this study did not definitively pinpoint the mechanism through which ultra-processed foods heighten cardiovascular risk, prior research has indicated they contain high levels of calories, sugar, salt, and fat. According to the authors, this profile may encourage overconsumption, leading to weight gain, inflammation, and increased body fat accumulation.
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