Highly processed foods include products such as breakfast cereals, soft drinks, frozen pizzas, and ready meals. These foods play a major role in many people’s daily diets.
This type of food is often made from ingredients extracted from raw materials, such as starch, fats, and added sugar.
At the same time, the products often contain additives that extend shelf life and enhance flavor.
Diet and health
Researchers examined the relationship between diet and health in a large British research project. Nearly 164,000 people took part in the study through the UK Biobank database.
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The participants were followed for more than 12 years. During that period, researchers analyzed both their dietary habits and their health data.
On average, participants consumed around eight portions of ultra-processed food per day.
The results, published in The British Journal of Nutrition, showed a clear link between a high intake of ultra-processed foods and certain health problems.
Bone density
In the study, researchers also measured the participants’ bone density.
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They found that people with a higher intake of ultra-processed foods were more likely to have lower bone density.
The association was observed in several parts of the body, including the femur and the lower back.
The study also showed that the risk of hip fractures increased. For every additional 3.7 portions of ultra-processed food per day, the risk rose by nearly 11 percent.
The effect was particularly noticeable among people under the age of 65 and among individuals with low body weight, who may already have a higher risk of weak bones.
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Sources: HealthDay, and The British Journal of Nutrition.
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