Ultra-processed foods, which also include instant noodles, ready-to-eat meals, and other packaged snacks such as chips and cookies, are mostly “chemically extracted products extracted from foods, along with additives to enhance taste, texture, appearance, and durability.” Made from modified substances. Contains minimal or no whole foods,” the study states.

They are industrially processed with added flavors and colors, contain high amounts of salt, fat, and sugar, and contain only small amounts of vitamins essential to a healthy diet.

Evidence from this study shows that there is a worrying link between high consumption of processed foods and the development of a number of health problems. The researchers reported that there was “compelling evidence” that: Symptoms associated with the consumption of ultra-processed foods.

• The risk of cardiovascular disease-related death is about 50% higher.
• Up to 53% higher risk of anxiety and general mental health conditions.
• 12% increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

Additionally, the researchers found “highly suggestive evidence” that:

• a 21% increased risk of death from any cause.
• Increased risk of heart disease-related death, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and sleep problems by 40-66%.
• 22% higher risk of depression.

“These findings support urgent mechanistic research and public health action aimed at targeting and minimizing consumption of ultra-processed foods to improve population health,” the study authors concluded. Ta.

Kristin Kirkpatrick, MS, a registered dietitian in the Department of Health and Preventive Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio and a senior researcher at Meadows Behavioral Healthcare in Wickenburg, Arizona, was not involved in the study. He told Healthline: Food products (UPF) are inexpensive and widely available as everyday shopping options.

“UPFs are usually highly palatable, meaning it’s hard to stop eating them, and when you’re not eating them, you’re much more likely to want to eat them,” says Kirkpatrick. Told. “They may make you feel calm and satisfied while eating them. That’s why we can’t stop eating them once we start.”

Melanie Murphy Richter, a registered dietitian and dietitian who was not involved in the study but is also director of communications for nutrition company Prolon, told Healthline that financial factors and the time constraints of many U.S. schedules Scarcity, combined with the difficulty of parsing food labels and marketing, makes UPF an easy choice. There’s also an emotional factor, she says.

“In my practice, I often have patients answer a variety of questions about their intake that help them understand the strongest motivations behind their dietary choices. Because it’s the comfort food that you knew when you were a kid or that your grandparents made,” Richter said. “For others, it’s the price. And ultra-processed foods are absolutely cheaper than healthier alternatives. For others, it’s the emotional thing. People are stressed, sad, angry. We eat because we are feeling . And it just so happens that the food our bodies crave during these emotional experiences is…sugar!”

The increased risk of sleep disorders, anxiety, depression and general mental health disorders that UPF causes is related to the different ways UPF interacts with our bodies, Richter said. She pointed out her four key areas. It’s a glucose spike and crash. Intestinal imbalance. Inflammation (associated with many mood disorders). and nutritional deficiencies due to vitamin deficiencies.

Because UPF is so high in added sugars, extreme fluctuations in blood sugar regulation can cause mood swings and irritability, which can lead to depression over time.

“We know that a diet high in sugar reduces the production of necessary neurotransmitters such as serotonin, which play an important role in mood regulation and mental health,” Richter says. “Furthermore, high intakes of sugar can preferentially feed pathogenic (harmful) bacteria in the intestines, such as yeast and molds, leading to severe dysbiosis. These pathogenic bugs can block or interfere with our ability to produce necessary hormones, such as serotonin, which calms us and relaxes us. In fact, nearly half of people who report having IBS or IBD experience anxiety report suffering from either schizophrenia or depression.”

Kirkpatrick also pointed out that UPF intake can be directly proportional to depression and anxiety levels. “Some studies have shown that quantity also plays a role. Increased intake of UPF may put you at risk for negative effects on your mental health,” she said.

New research suggests that eating ultra-processed foods is associated with 32 negative health effects, including cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, depression, and premature death.

Ultra-processed foods such as commercial cookies, prepackaged snacks, processed meats, sugary cereals, and sodas are cheap and easily available.

Researchers say that consuming large amounts of ultra-processed foods can disrupt gut health, cause spikes in blood sugar levels, and cause chronic inflammation, all of which can negatively impact mental health. Masu.