Ultra-processed foods are a threat to health, say specialists. But if a nutritionist had to name one of these products they would never consume, what would it be?
Almost 60% of the caloric intake in the typical American diet comes from ultra-processed foods, according to a 2017 study published in the journal Population Health Metrics – a concerning situation for health experts, as reported by CNBC.
"Ultra-processed foods contain ingredients that are generally not found in our kitchen and often have high amounts of sugar and salt. They may also contain additives and are often devoid of nutritional value. So, they may have very few vitamins, minerals, and fiber," says Jinan Banna, a nutritionist and nutrition professor at the University of Hawaii.
Consuming ultra-processed foods can lead to a higher risk of developing conditions such as dementia, diabetes, and heart disease, according to experts from the American Medical Association.
That's why Banna limits her consumption of ultra-processed foods to the maximum and encourages everyone to do the same. She also revealed the ultra-processed product she always avoids.
"I would never consume some ultra-processed products, such as sugary drinks. They have no nutritional value, just calories in the form of sugar. So, they are empty calories that do not provide any of the nutrients we need," she said.
When we drink a sugary drink, it is digested very quickly and can cause a feeling of hunger, which makes us eat more than we intend.
Banna replaces sugary drinks with different types of tea and water, still or sparkling.
"Sometimes I drink a cold hibiscus tea. Still water is, of course, an excellent alternative. Even coffee can be an option, consumed in moderation, of course," she explained.
Sugary drinks shorten life
Diet sodas and other ultra-processed beverages are among the most popular processed products, recent research shows.
A preliminary study presented last week at an annual meeting of the American Society of Nutrition closely examined food data collected in 1995 from over 500,000 Americans aged 50 to 71. The data was used to determine if there were links between dietary choices and death rates over a period of nearly 30 years.
Out of the 124 food products, ultra-processed beverages were the main product that people with the highest consumption of ultra-processed foods included in their diet.
"Diet sodas had a key contribution to the consumption of ultra-processed foods. In second place were sugar-sweetened beverages," said the study's lead author, Erikka Loftfield.
Beverages represent a significant part of the food intake. Therefore, these types of beverages - such as diet sodas and energy drinks - are the processed products that people seem to consume the most, Loftfield said.
The study also found that the life expectancy of those following a diet rich in ultra-processed foods may be shortened by over 10%, according to CNN.
T.D.