{"id":312556,"date":"2025-11-25T10:29:16","date_gmt":"2025-11-25T10:29:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/312556\/"},"modified":"2025-11-25T10:29:16","modified_gmt":"2025-11-25T10:29:16","slug":"crohns-diabetes-10-more-health-issues-tied-to-ultra-processed-foods","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/312556\/","title":{"rendered":"Crohn’s, diabetes, 10 more health issues tied to ultra-processed foods"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"cakeShare on Pinterest<\/a>Ultra-processed foods are linked to 12 health risks, including Crohn\u2019s disease and diabetes, evidence shows. Image credit: Andy Sacks\/Getty ImagesNumerous studies have warned against the potential health risks of making ultra processed foods (UPF) a large percentage of a person\u2019s diet. A new study found that consumption of UPFs is on the rise around the world.Researchers also provide further evidence of a connection between UPF intake and an increased risk for 12 health conditions. <\/p>\n

Over the past few years, numerous studies have warned against the potential health risks of making ultra processed foods (UPFs)<\/a> a large percentage of a person\u2019s diet. <\/p>\n

Now, a paper recently published in the journal The Lancet<\/a>, part of a three-paper series<\/a>, concluded that the consumption of UPFs is on the rise around the world.<\/p>\n

The paper, which cited data from recent studies, reviews, and meta-analyses, provides further evidence of a connection between UPF intake and an increased risk for 12 major health risks. <\/p>\n

The second paper<\/a> in the series focuses on how policies are needed to help regulate UPFs around the world, while the third<\/a> calls for the mobilization of a public health response to the increase of UPFs in diets globally.<\/p>\n

For this study, researchers focused on UPFs as defined by the NOVA classification system<\/a>. UPFs are Group 4 of the NOVA system, and are defined as \u201cformulations of ingredients, mostly of exclusive industrial use, typically created by (a) series of industrial techniques and processes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Common examples of UPFs include: <\/p>\n

canned soupscommercially baked goodsfrozen mealsprepackaged mealsprocessed meatssodas and energy drinkssnacks, such as potato chips, cookies, and crackerssweetened breakfast cereals.<\/p>\n

Through the analysis of various studies, researchers determined that UPFs have been increasing in diets around the world.<\/p>\n

For instance, the researchers found that in the United States and the United Kingdom, the estimated energy contribution of UPFs to the total food purchases or intake of a household stayed above 50%.<\/p>\n

This percentage tripled in Spain and China over the past 3 years, and in the last four 4 increased from 10% to 23% in both Mexico and Brazil. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe growing consumption of ultra-processed foods is reshaping diets worldwide, displacing fresh and minimally processed foods and meals,\u201d Carlos A. Monteiro<\/a>, MD, professor of nutrition and public health in the School of Public Health at the University of S\u00e3o Paulo, Brazil, and first author of this study, said in a press release<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis change in what people eat is fueled by powerful global corporations who generate huge profits by prioritizing ultra-processed products, supported by extensive marketing and political lobbying to stop effective public health policies to support healthy eating,\u201d Monteiro pointed out.<\/p>\n

In their paper, the researchers also reviewed 104 long-term studies, and discovered that 92 of these showed an association between UPF consumption and increased risks for a total of 12 health conditions and outcomes.<\/p>\n

Medical News Today had the opportunity to speak with Mir Ali<\/a>, MD, a board-certified general surgeon, bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA, about this research. <\/p>\n

Ali, who was not involved in the study said he thought this was a very informative paper that further delineates the adverse outcomes of a diet high in UPFs.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is a rise in consumption of ultra-processed foods worldwide, but particularly in the U.S., so medical practitioners in virtually all specialties will see the effects of this change in diet on patients. By doing research that shows how and why these foods are detrimental, patients \u2014 and medical professionals \u2014 can better understand why these foods should be minimized.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2013 Mir Ali, MD<\/p>\n

\u201cMore research is needed to better define the mechanism by which ultra-processed hurt the body,\u201d Ali added. \u201cAlso, a comparison of different diet types vs UPFs to show the difference in health effects would also be helpful.\u201d<\/p>\n

MNT also spoke with Monique Richard<\/a>, MS, RDN, LDN, a registered dietitian nutritionist and owner of Nutrition-In-Sight, who offered her top tips on how to reduce UPFs in our diets.<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst, I encourage people to start with assessing access, ability, and awareness \u2014 not focusing on guilt or shame,\u201d Richard told us.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy job as a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) is to meet people where they are, not where an idealized version of themselves or society thinks they \u2018should\u2019 be. We are able to translate evidence into daily, doable habits that can change the trajectory of health and enhance quality of life. Changes can be complex when considering the current landscape, pertinent health disparities, and lack of health literacy in specific populations.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2013 Monique Richard, MS, RDN, LDN<\/p>\n

\u201cOn the other hand, when an individual is willing and able to navigate changes, it can also be quite simple to make small, but impactful changes,\u201d she added. \u201cI have educated clients on healthier choices available anywhere they are \u2014 from dollar stores to gas stations, fast food chains to airports, hospitals to truck stops and more.\u201d <\/p>\n

Richard\u2019s first tip is to add before you subtract. <\/p>\n

\u201cInstead of focusing on what to remove, add foods beneficial to health where possible and accessible,\u201d she advised. \u201cOver time, nutrient-dense foods naturally crowd out UPFs. Try adding a serving of fruit in its natural \u2018packaging\u2019 (skin) to a meal or a day, [or] a handful of nuts<\/a>, beans, or a vegetable at each meal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Next, Richard suggested making swaps without sacrificing convenience. If the top ingredients are sugar, starches, oils, emulsifiers, gums, or stabilizers, she detailed, the food is likely ultra-processed. <\/p>\n

Richard said to look for other available choices. For instance, she said, we can \u201cswap sugary beverages for water infused with citrus, berries, or herbs, or a non-sugar flavor infusers like crystallized (powdered, dehydrated form of citrus) lemon, lime, or orange.\u201c<\/p>\n

Another tip was to \u201cchoose minimally processed proteins (rotisserie chicken, beans, yogurt<\/a>, tofu<\/a>), baked, grilled, or broiled instead of breaded or fried entrees, or opt for lower-sodium canned tuna, sardines<\/a>, or chicken.\u201c<\/p>\n

Finally, \u201creplace a snack of chips or crackers with a trail mix made of nuts and dried fruit,\u201c Richard advised.<\/p>\n

She also urged everyone to cook a little more at home. It does not have to be perfect or elaborate, she said, just more often.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven one home-prepared meal makes a difference,\u201d Richard continued. \u201cResearch has shown numerous long-term benefits of families cooking and sharing meals together that extend far beyond nutrient intake at that moment. Use simple ingredients: vegetables, beans, eggs, whole grains, herbs, and spices. [And] build your meals around actual foods, not ingredients that don\u2019t include actual food.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Share on PinterestUltra-processed foods are linked to 12 health risks, including Crohn\u2019s disease and diabetes, evidence shows. Image…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":312557,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[116281,97,269,3629],"class_list":{"0":"post-312556","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-health","8":"tag-crohns-disease","9":"tag-health","10":"tag-nutrition","11":"tag-type-2-diabetes"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/312556","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=312556"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/312556\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/312557"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=312556"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=312556"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=312556"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}