For this study, a team of researchers including experts from China, Brazil and the US tracked 74,563 female registered nurses from 11 US states from 1984 to 2018. The study also tracked 39,501 male health professionals from 50 US states in the same duration with no history of diabetes, cancer or heart diseases.
Despite being an observational study, researchers said that no conclusions can be drawn regarding the cause and effects and the findings at the core of it do not support eating ultra-processed foods.
New Delhi: People who cannot get enough of their favourite snacks like chips and fizzy drinks and other packaged snacks like sugary cereals must think twice before including them in the upcoming grocery shopping list. According to a study published in the journal The BMJ, it was found that excessive intake of such foods can raise the risk of early death. These risks are attributed to ingredients like saturated fats, sugar, salt and absence of essential vitamins and minerals and fibre that overtime contribute to a heightened risk of diabetes, cancer and hypertension. In a long run, it can also raise the risk of heart diseases or cancer.
How do processed foods affect death risk?
For this study, a team of researchers including experts from China, Brazil and the US tracked 74,563 female registered nurses from 11 US states from 1984 to 2018. The study also tracked 39,501 male health professionals from 50 US states in the same duration with no history of diabetes, cancer or heart diseases. Results of the study showed that eating an average of 7 servings in a day of processed foods can raise the risk of early death by 4% – and 8% heightened risk of deaths due to neurodegenerative diseases.
The rate of death from any cause among the participants was 1,536 per 100,000 person-years. Additionally, intake of poultry, meal and ready-to-eat, seafood-based products, was associated with the strongest risk of early death, following by artificially-sweetened products, sugar-sweetened foods, drinks, processed breakfast and dairy-based desserts. Despite being an observational study, researchers said that no conclusions can be drawn regarding the cause and effects and the findings at the core of it do not support eating ultra-processed foods.
How to increase lifespan?
According to studies and experts, the following tips can help increase lifespan:
Healthy diet
Weight management
Diabetes management
Quit smoking
Limit alcohol intake
Regular workouts
Meditation
