Nowadays many of us are increasingly moving towards packaged and ready-to-eat products. They are convenient to eat and easily available, but recent research has shown that some common preservatives used in some food items can be harmful to our health. Two large studies, conducted in France and published in the British Medical Journal and Nature Communications, analyzed the diet and health data of more than 1 lakh adults between 2009 and 2023. This study was conducted under the NutriNet-Sant group and its objective was to understand whether long-term consumption of these preservatives increases the risk of serious diseases like cancer and type 2 diabetes.

What are ultra-processed foods?

Ultra-processed foods are those that are prepared in factories. These usually contain too much sugar, salt and unhealthy fats, while having very little essential nutrients such as vitamins and minerals. These products also often contain additives such as preservatives, emulsifiers and stabilizers. These are such chemicals which are rarely used in normal household food.

What did the research find?

The research examined 17 common preservatives, which included substances such as potassium sorbate, sodium nitrite and acetic acid. All these are commonly found in packaged foods sold in India. Excessive consumption of potassium sorbate can increase the risk of overall cancer by 14 percent and the risk of breast cancer by 26 percent. Sulfites increased overall cancer risk by 12 percent. Sodium nitrite was found to increase the risk of prostate cancer by 32 percent. Potassium nitrate and acetic acid intake linked to overall cancer and breast cancer.

However, researchers clarified that it is too early to say that consumption of these preservatives is a direct cause of cancer. This requires more in-depth study. But it is definitely believed that these chemicals can increase inflammation and oxidative stress in the body and can affect the intestinal microbiota, which can increase the risk of cancer and other diseases.

Indian Preservatives

The packaged food market is growing rapidly in India. Experts say these findings further reinforce that the modern diet pattern, which is based mostly on ultra-processed food, can be harmful to health. Experts say that based on these results, it is necessary to conduct immediate regulatory review and increase public awareness. He says that ultra-processed foods have already been found to be linked to about 32 health problems including metabolic and mental disorders, untimely death.

How do preservatives cause harm?

Preservatives are added to food items mainly to prevent them from spoiling and to increase their shelf life. But experts say they can also affect the natural structure of food. When this structure is disrupted, even healthy nutrients can have harmful effects. Many preservatives can cause multiple levels of inflammation, oxidative stress and disturbance in the gut microbiota in the body over a long period of time.

What can be done?

Researchers suggest that regulators should strictly monitor and make rules on the use of preservatives. Till then, consumers are advised to eat as much fresh and less processed food as possible. Policy action regarding ultra-processed food has started in many countries of the world. TV and online advertising has been banned in Britain for the safety of children. The US updated its diet guidelines and advised people to prioritize fresh and less processed foods over packaged products.

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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.

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Fast Food Side Effects: Nowadays, people’s lifestyle has changed a lot, people are becoming more dependent on eating fast food from outside instead of cooking. But do you think that occasional French fries, chips or a sweet drink bought from the market will do no harm? If you also think that nothing will happen from this, then be careful. The latest Lancet report tells something else about this. The new series has revealed that ultra-processed foods cause damage to almost every major organ of the body and can cause many long-term diseases and premature death. These packaged foods, which are consumed on a large scale around the world, are now causing such serious health problems that experts are demanding immediate strict rules, labeling and policy changes.

One or two bites may seem less harmful, but research says that this very beginning affects the body deeply in the future. This series of three major papers, published in The Lancet, is believed to be the most comprehensive review on UPFs to date, and makes clear that these foods can harm every major organ. Let us tell you what are the dangers of this.

UPF linked to many diseases including cancer

UPFs are everywhere today. According to a study by BMJ, more than half of the daily calories consumed by people in America come from ultra-processed foods. From morning cereals to burgers, chips, packaged snacks, soft drinks, frozen meals, biscuits, cake mixes, instant noodles, nuggets, sausages. Their list never ends. The conclusion reached by 43 experts from all over the world after doing research is scary. Of these, 92 studies found that UPFs increase the risk of chronic diseases. Be it heart disease, diabetes, obesity or depression. Many studies also linked them to cases of premature death.

Nutrition expert Carlos Monteiro explains that “The evidence is clear that the human body is not biologically prepared for these foods. UPFs damage every major organ system.” Researchers developed the NOVA system based on the level of processing of food, with UPF falling in the highest category (Level 4). That is, those food items which are made industrially and in which artificial things like flavour, colour, emulsifier are added.

Demand for clear labeling and strict regulations

Researchers recommended that UPFs be written clearly and in capital letters on the front of pack, along with warnings about sugar, salt and fat. He says that people often get fooled by “healthy” looking packs, even though they contain very high amounts of UPFs. Researchers are warning that global companies are increasingly promoting these products for huge profits. Marketing and political lobbying are preventing sound public-health policies from taking place.

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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, most people have started liking food to become instant. Whether to reach the office early in the morning or give tiffin to the children, in the market, ready-to-Eat packets, instant noodles, biscuits, chips, cakes, canned juices and frozen foods such as ultra-proselysed foods have become part of our daily life food, they can be as part of the same tasty. By eating these things, we get relief in satisfying hunger immediately, but gradually they fill the poison of diseases in the body. Many times we do not even know that this habit is slowly taking us towards serious diseases and premature death. In such a situation, let us know how many diseases can be caused by ultra processed food and how much death increases.

What are ultra-processed foods?
Ultra-processed foods are food items that have been processed too much, with article phelovers, colors, preservatives, and chemicals. In preparing these foods, the use of natural elements is very few and chemicals made in machines and factories are more. Such as snacks with packets, instant noodles, biscuits, cakes, pastries, canned juices and cold drinks, frozen pizza ready-to-Eat.

How many diseases can be caused by ultra processed food?
The American Heart Association and many health experts of the world have told that ultra-processed foods are very harmful for health. Due to their frequent intake, hormonal imbalance, swelling, weight gain, and immunity start to weaken in the body. A major study found that eating more processed food increases the risk of many diseases.

1. Heart Attack and Stroke – Trans fat, salt and chemicals present in ultra-processed foods damage the blood tubes, causing the risk of heart diseases and brain strokes to about 50 percent.

2. Obesity – Calorie is more in these foods and less nutrition, due to which fat accumulates in the body and weight increases rapidly. This increases the chances of obesity by 55 percent.

3. Sleep problem – Processed foods contain elements like sugar and caffeine, which spoil the natural processes of sleep in the body. This can increase the problem of sleeplessness by 41 percent.

4. Type-2 Diabetes- Hidden sugar and refined carbs in these foods imbalance blood sugar. This increases insulin resistance and increases the risk of type-2 diabetes by 40 percent.

5. Depression – Ultra-processed foods affect the chemicals in the brain such as serotonin, which worsens the mood and can increase the possibility of depression by 20 percent.

How much does the risk of death increase?
Most people who eat more ultra-processed food daily, in which the risk of premature death increases by about 30 percent to 50 percent. Because these foods cause swelling and high blood pressure in the body, which harm the heart and brain. These foods do not have essential nutrients, which weaken the immune system. Problems like obesity, diabetes and cholesterol increase the risk of death. They have a bad effect on liver, kidney and brain in a long time.

Also read: These symptoms of heart attack start appearing 10 years ago, the heart itself does gestures

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