What ultra-processed foods are the least heart-healthy?
September 10, 2024 — Diets high in ultra-processed foods have been linked to increased risk of a range of health problems including chronic diseases, poorer brain health, and early death. But this is a diverse category of foods, running the gamut from whole grain breads and plant milks to hot dogs and sodas. When it comes to heart health, some are worse than others, according to a new study led by researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
The study, one of the largest and longest to look at ultra-processed foods and heart health, was published September 5 in The Lancet Regional Health-Americas.
First author Kenny Mendoza, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Nutrition, and colleagues used health data from more than 200,000 adults collected over 30 years. Findings were combined with those from 19 other studies for an additional analysis of about 1.25 million adults.
Looking at ultra-processed foods overall, they found an association between high consumption and greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease, and of having a stroke.
When they broke ultra-processed foods into 10 categories, two were associated with greater heart health risk: sugar-sweetened drinks and processed meats. On the other hand, three categories were associated with reduced risk: cold cereals, yogurt and ice cream, and savory snacks.
The foods’ nutritional profiles may make the difference, Mendoza said in a September 5 New York Times article—for example, if they are high in sugar and sodium or contain valuable nutrients such as fiber.
Given that processed meats and sugary drinks have consistently been linked to health risks, reducing or eliminating consumption of them should be a priority, senior author Josiemer Mattei, Donald and Sue Pritzker Associate Professor of Nutrition, said in the article.
Read the New York Times article: Are Some Ultraprocessed Foods Worse Than Others?
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