Nutrition Safety: Ultra-processed foods may impact your heart health –Researchers

*Health professionals found that a large, nationally representative sample of 4,787 American adults, showed that consumers Ultra-Processed Food (UPF) intake suffered a statistically significant and clinically important 47 percent higher risk of cardiovascular disease, advising patients to reduce UPF food intake alongside other proven lifestyle changes

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

Eating more of ultra-processed foods, such as sodas, packaged snacks, and processed meats, has been linked to a 47 percent higher risk of heart attack or stroke in a large adult sample in the United States (US).

ConsumerConnect gathered that a team of researchers led by Florida Atlantic University, in the US, measured how much of consumers’ daily calories came from ultra-processed foods, using established diet surveys and CVD history reports.

What is Ultra-Processed Food (UPF)?

In regard to what exactly counts as an ultra-processed food (UPF), in research terms, these are foods that are industrially made with ingredients, such as sugars, salts, fats, emulsifiers, and other additives — and often lack whole food nutrients.

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The report further showed that even after adjusting for age, smoking, income and other factors, the highest consumers of ultra-processed foods still indicated a statistically significant increased cardiovascular disease risk.

Chances are, several consumers grab a packaged snack or sugary drink without much thought — they’re everywhere and easy to eat, noted the report.

The researchers were said to have planned to explore something important: are diets high in these ultra-processed foods linked with serious heart problems like heart attacks and strokes?

Researcher Charles H. Hennekens, M.D., FACPM, FACC, in a statement, said: “The findings from our study, based on a large, nationally representative sample of 4,787 US adults, show that those with the highest intake of UPFs suffer a statistically significant and clinically important 47 percent higher risk of cardiovascular disease.

“These results have major implications for future research as well as clinical care and public policy.”

As regards the approach to explore the question, scientists tapped into the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which collects detailed information on Americans’ eating habits, health history, and lifestyle.

How researchers conducted the survey

They examined 4,787 adults who had provided at least a day of detailed dietary records between 2021 and 2023.

Using a widely accepted system called the NOVA classification, researchers then, calculated what percentage of each person’s calories came from ultra-processed foods — think sodas, frozen dinners, packaged snacks, and similar products.

Participants were placed into four groups from lowest to highest UPF consumption.

The team compared those groups against reports of cardiovascular disease (defined as having had a heart attack or stroke), while statistically controlling for factors at play like age, sex, smoking habits, and income.

The research findings

What stood out most in their findings was the link between high UPF intake and cardiovascular events:

Adults in the highest group of ultra-processed food consumption had a 47 percent higher risk of cardiovascular disease, compared with those in the lowest group — even after accounting for lifestyle and demographic differences.

In simple terms, this means that among people with similar ages, smoking status, income, and more, those eating the most ultra-processed foods were more likely to report serious heart or stroke problems than those eating less.

The researchers identified long-term, randomised studies would help to confirm these findings.

However, for now this evidence suggests it’s worth paying attention to how much processed food ends up on your plate as a consumer.

As they put it, health professionals might consider advising patients to reduce ultra-processed food intake alongside other proven lifestyle changes.

Dr. Hennekens also explained: “Addressing UPFs isn’t just about individual choices – it’s about creating environments where the healthy option is the easy option.

“Clinical guidance and public health education are necessary to make nutritious foods accessible and affordable for everyone.”

What this means for everyday eating

For consumers, the takeaway from the study isn’t about eliminating every packaged food — it’s about awareness and balance.

A practical step is paying attention to how much of your daily calorie intake comes from ultra-processed items, especially foods, including sugary drinks, packaged snacks, and heavily processed meats, health experts stated.

The researchers grouped people based on proportion of calories, suggesting that overall dietary patterns matter more than any single food choice.

It is noted that ultimately, this research supports the idea that small, realistic dietary adjustments — not perfection — could play a role in long-term heart health, especially when combined with other well-established lifestyle factors like not smoking and staying physically active.

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