Harmful Effects Of Processed Food: America has taken a big step regarding the eating habits of its citizens. The central government has issued new Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025–2030, which are considered to be the biggest change in nutrition policy in the last several decades. These guidelines have been prepared jointly by the US Health and Public Welfare Department and the Agriculture Department. Let us tell you about it.

What is special in it?

The most important thing about the new guidelines is the return of the food pyramid. But this time its message is very simple and straightforward that stay away from packaged food and eat real food. American officials say that instead of making people dependent on medicines and processed food, efforts are being made to return them to everyday nutrition.

This decision has been taken at a time when America is going through a serious health crisis. More than 70 percent of adults there are either overweight or obese. Almost every third teenager is in prediabetes. The situation is such that about 90 percent of the country’s healthcare expenditure is being incurred on those diseases, the root of which is considered to be wrong eating habits and spoiled lifestyle.

What is the guideline?

The new food pyramid has been created as a simple guide for people to make better food choices in their everyday lives. In this, priority has been given to such food items which are rich in nutrients and are not overly processed. According to the guidelines, real food is food that has minimal ingredients and does not contain added sugar, industrial oil, artificial flavors or preservatives.

Vice versa in India

While on one hand, major changes are being made in America regarding food habits so that health can be maintained, on the other hand, the opposite is happening in India. According to the Lancet report, retail sales of ultra-processed food in the country have increased by 40 percent from 2006 to 2019. Talking about retail sales, according to the ICRIER report between 2011 and 2021, there has been an annual increase of 13 percent.

According to the Euromonitor report within the country, the per capita consumption of packaged or processed food increased from Rs 2,800 in 2012 to Rs 5,200 in 2018. The situation is such that 11 percent people are suffering from diabetes, 3.4 percent small children are also becoming victims of obesity, about 29 percent people are suffering from obesity and 15 percent of the population is showing symptoms of diabetes.

Also read: This accident can happen while brushing, only 10 such cases in the world

Disclaimer: This information is based on research studies and expert opinion. Do not consider this as a substitute for medical advice. Before adopting any new activity or exercise, please consult your doctor or relevant specialist.

Check out below Health Tools-
Calculate Your Body Mass Index (BMI)

Calculate The Age Through Age Calculator

In today’s busy life, people have become more dependent on quickly prepared packaged food. Things like chips, biscuits, packet juice, cold drinks, processed meat, ready-to-eat noodles and bread have become common in every household. Now the question arises whether these packaged items can cause serious diseases like cancer? Research is being done on this question all over the world. From France’s big study NutriNet-Sante to recent reports, there has been a lot of evidence that excessive consumption of ultra-processed food can increase the risk of cancer, but some experts say that there is no concrete evidence yet. Patna’s famous cancer expert Dr. BP Singh has also given his opinion on this. Let us know what he revealed on this issue?

How are ultra-processed foods?

Ultra-processed foods are food items that are heavily processed in factories. In these, salt, sugar, oil and many types of chemical additives like preservatives, colors, flavors and emulsifiers are added, so that the food products do not spoil for a long time and taste good. Generally, packaged chips, soda, packet juice, processed cheese, meat products like sausage, ham and many types of snacks fall in this category.

What has come to light in the research?

First of all let’s talk about old research. In fact, during the year 2018, a big study named NutriNet-Sante found that if the share of ultra-processed food in the diet increases by 10 percent, then the risk of cancer increases by 12 percent and the risk of breast cancer increases by 11 percent. This study was published in the famous medical journal BMJ, for which thousands of people were followed for a long time. At the same time, in January 2026 itself, a new part of the Nutrinate-Sante study has been published in the BMJ journal, in which the focus was on food preservatives, i.e. chemicals that protect goods from spoilage.

So many people participated in the new study

According to the information, more than one lakh people were included in the new study. The results show that excessive consumption of certain preservatives increases the risk of all types of cancer, including breast cancer and prostate cancer. In fact, additives like potassium sorbate, sodium nitrite, potassium nitrate and sodium erythorbate showed more danger. Although no direct connection was found between preservatives and cancer, the risk of cancer was found to increase by 10-20 percent in those who used them excessively.

Why does the danger increase?

According to experts, ultra-processed food contains excess salt, sugar and saturated fat, which increases obesity, diabetes and inflammation. All these are risk factors for cancer. Additionally, chemicals and preservatives from packaging can cause inflammation in the body or damage DNA. Microplastics can also enter the body from plastic packets.

Should you never eat packaged food?

Focusing on all the research, the question arises whether one should not eat packaged food even by mistake? On this, Patna’s famous cancer expert Dr. BP Singh said that many researches have been done till now, but till now no concrete evidence has been found in any lab that packaged food causes cancer. It is clear that packaged food is harmful, which increases stomach diseases and gastrointestinal problems. Fresh juice, milk or bread are beneficial, but packaged foods can be harmful. Milk that comes in plastic packets is also not considered good, but no evidence of cancer has been found yet. However, it should not be ignored. Such foods can increase the risk of cancer related to stomach and intestines.

Also read: If you are relying on the normal report of ECG then be careful, if you do not pay attention then death can occur at any time.

Disclaimer: This information is based on research studies and expert opinion. Do not consider this as a substitute for medical advice. Before adopting any new activity or exercise, please consult your doctor or relevant specialist.

Check out below Health Tools-
Calculate Your Body Mass Index (BMI)

Calculate The Age Through Age Calculator