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Evidence shows Bhujia, Noodles, Pepsi, Coke increase chance of cancer, heart attack and more

  Higher consumption of most ultra-processed foods is linked to a slightly higher risk of death, with ready-to-eat meat, poultry, and seafood based products, sugary drinks, dairy based desserts, and highly processed breakfast foods showing the strongest associations, finds a 30-year U.S. observational study. The results were published in the journal The BMJ.





The researchers say not all ultra-processed food products should be universally restricted, but that their findings “provide support for limiting consumption of certain types of ultra-processed food for long term health”. Mounting evidence links ultra-processed foods to higher risks of obesity, heart disease, diabetes and bowel cancer, but few long term studies have examined links to all causes and cause specific deaths, especially due to cancer.

Ref : The Hindu - 11 May 2024.
https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/30-year-study-links-ultra-processed-food-to-higher-risk-of-early-death/article68161789.ece

Scientific resources:

From the British Medical Journal . A 2023 BMJ article found that eating more ultra-processed foods is linked to higher risks of:

# All-cause mortality - (death due to different health reasons)
# Heart disease-related mortality
# Type 2 diabetes
# Depressive outcomes
# Sleep issues
# Wheezing
# Obesity

https://www.bmj.com/content/384/bmj-2023-077310

So What are ultra processed foods? Ultra-processed foods are industrially processed foods that contain additives, preservatives, and high levels of sugars, fats, and salt. Some common examples of ultra-processed foods in India include:

# Breakfast cereals: Oats, porridge, muesli, and corn flakes
# Biscuits
# Bhujia
# Packaged snacks: Health bars, crisps, and pretzels
# Sweetened beverages: Juices and soda
# Fast food
# Ready-to-eat meals: Instant noodles and soups
 

Compiled by : Dr M Khalid Munir , MBBS, Cert in diabetes ( Univ of Copenhagen). Diabetes specialist, JBI Hospital, Nanal Nagar, Hyderabad. Ex consultant Kamineni wockhardt hospital, Hyderabad. For in person consultation or online video consultation, Whatsapp 9959098255


Additional reading
https://www.thehansindia.com/editors-choice/why-ultra-processed-foods-so-bad-795309

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