Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Qatari Foreign Ministry: Qatar and Egypt welcome Hamas' announcement of its agreement to release American Aidan Alexander.
Hamas says to release US captive Edan Alexander.
Al Mayadeen's sources: Trump will announce that Hamas will release US captive Edan Alexander from Gaza.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: Israeli aircraft bombed the coastal province of Hodeidah on the Red Sea, west of Yemen.
The Israeli occupation military issues a bombing threat against the Yemeni ports of Ras Isa, Hodeidah, and Salif.
UKMTO says vessel reported a small craft colliding with it, attempting to collide with other vessels in the area
UKMTO says it received a report of an incident 80NM northwest of jebel Ali, UAE
Israeli Foreign Minister says 'Israel' fully endorses Trump plan for Gaza aid: Reuters
Iranian state media: The fourth round of nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington has kicked off in Oman
Senior Israeli intelligence official: Contacts are underway between Syria and "Israel" to retrieve the body of the spy Eli Cohen

Study: Ultra-processed foods correlated with premature deaths

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 8 Nov 2022 11:28
  • 3 Shares
4 Min Read

A correlation between ultra-processed food consumption and premature death was found among a Brazilian population in a recent nutrition study.

  • x
  • Ultra-processed food examples: Chips, salt crackers, coloring-coated chocolates, and more.
    Ultra-processed food examples: Chips, salt crackers, coloring-coated chocolates, and more.

Evidence suggests that consuming too much highly processed food can have biological effects that stretch beyond obesity and cholesterol.

According to a study published by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine on Monday, in 2019, the deaths of around 57,000 Brazilian people between the ages of 30 and 69 were attributed to the consumption of ultra-processed food. Over 10% of the premature deaths in that age group were attributed to consuming foods such as hot dogs, chips, soda, and ice cream.

This marks the first study to estimate the effects of ultra-processed food on the risk of early death. 

Applying a calculative model against a Brazilian population, the authors estimated the number of premature deaths which may have been prevented if people between the ages of 30 and 69 had eaten less processed foods. The study was conducted for the reason that the WHO attributes death from noncommunicable diseases to be premature in that age group.

The lead author in the study, Eduardo Nilson, who is a nutrition researcher at the University of Sao Paulo, said he believes "it is very likely that heart disease is among the main factors" contributing to these premature deaths. Diabetes, cancer, obesity, and chronic kidney disease may play a role as well, he said.

Ultra-processed foods are those that contain more artificial ingredients than those that just have added salt, sugar, or oil, in addition to containing very few whole ingredients. They contain flavorings, colors, and other additives. In addition to chips, ice cream, and other previously mentioned foods, instant noodles, frozen pizza and store-bought cookies are also ultra-processed foods. They can be easily spotted by their hideously long list of ingredients that you wouldn’t normally find in your kitchen. 

Related News

Trump welcomes Edan Alexander’s release as 'Israel' faces discord

China says US trade communique to be 'good news for the world'

Particularly in Brazil, ultra-processed foods contributing to large intakes of calories are mass-produced breads, cakes and pies, margarine, salted crackers, cookies, ham, hotdogs, hamburgers, pizza, and sugary drinks. 

Read next: Artificial sweeteners linked to cancer: Study

US is even more at risk

Nilson et al., the study's authors, predict that if all Brazilian adults ensured that ultra-processed foods made up less than 23% of their daily intake, the country would witness 20,000 fewer premature deaths per year. Although most Brazilians are below this threshold already, 25% of the country’s adult population gets more than 50% of its daily calories from the harmful foods.

The US is even more at risk, compared: Ultra-processed foods make up around 57% of daily calories on average. Nilson predicts even more premature deaths in the US within this age group. 

Although the study did not project that ultra-processed foods offer a direct cause of premature deaths, it did put forward a correlation. Previous studies have proposed that ultra-processed foods are correlated with negative health effects such as diabetes, cognitive decline, heart disease, and cancer. 

"It’s likely that these ultra-processed foods are just one factor that’s leading to things like hypertension, poor blood lipids, higher waist circumferences, and that’s actually how they’re linked to mortality," said Maura Walker, an assistant professor of nutrition at Boston University. 

A good alternative would be swapping ultra-processed foods for fresh fruits and vegetables. 

Read next: New study finds yet another health benefit of drinking coffee

  • United States
  • Ultra-processed food
  • Brazil
  • Cancer
  • Nutrition
  • obesity

Most Read

Trump cut off contact with Netanyahu, senior Israeli official says

Trump cut off contact with Netanyahu: Israeli media

  • US & Canada
  • 9 May 2025
Pakistan downs an Indian jet and hits a military base in Kashmir escalation.

Pakistan downs 3 Indian jets, hits military base in Kashmir escalation

  • Politics
  • 7 May 2025
A Yemeni gunman walks past paintings depicting rockets and scenes in solidarity with Gaza, displayed on a roadside fence in Sanaa, Yemen, Monday, May 5, 2025 (AP)

Oman brokers US-Yemen ceasefire, Israelis in dark regarding deal

  • Politics
  • 6 May 2025
Saree

Yemeni Armed Forces target key Israeli sites, USS Truman

  • MENA
  • 7 May 2025

Coverage

All
Gaza prevails against genocide

Read Next

All
This Sept. 29, 2018 file photo shows idle cargo and oil tanker ships at the port of Hodeida, Yemen. (AP)
Politics

'Israel' issues threats to three Yemeni ports

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a briefing in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Politics

Zelensky agrees to meet Putin in Istanbul, demands ceasefire first

A boy holds an empty pot over his head as he waits for donated food at a community kitchen in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, Friday, May 9, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US-Gaza ceasefire negotiations intensify amid Trump-Netanyahu split

AP
Politics

Hamas to free Edan Alexander as part of Gaza deal: Al-Hayya

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS