Sodas, hot dogs, and packaged bread might sound like your Fourth of July grocery list, but a new study suggests those ultra-processed foods could be cutting your life short.
A preliminary study tracking over 500,000 people for nearly three decades found that eating higher levels of ultra-processed food may shorten lifespans by 15% for men and 14% for women.
One of the greatest culprits, experts say are sodas and other sugar-sweetened drinks.
Processed meats such as bacon, sausages, and deli meats also rank high and are linked to heart disease and diabetes.
Another recent study found consumption of ultra-processed foods has doubled between the mid-1980s and 2018. These items now make up as much as 60% of the average American diet.
“They’re leading to inflammation. They’re leading to more fat storage … causing high amounts of sodium, which is leading to elevated blood pressure, which also increases your risk of stroke,” said Julia Zumpano, a registered dietitian and nutritionist with Cleveland Clinic. “Artificial ingredients have also been linked to cancer, specifically processed meats have been considered a carcinogen.”
Choosing whole foods can make a significant difference in long-term health.
“That means it’s a single ingredient. Foods like apple, grape, orange, cucumber, potato, chicken, those one ingredient foods, those are the foods we really wanna focus on,” Zumpano said.
But if your cravings won’t subside, Zumpano said to pick a poison.
“Maybe it’s a hot dog, maybe it’s a regular soda or diet soda and have it very infrequently for special occasions,” Zumpano said.