Ultra-processed food raises risk of heart attack and stroke

LONDON: Ultra-processed food significantly raises the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, heart attacks and strokes, according to two studies that one expert says should serve as a wake-up call for governments worldwide.

Global consumption of heavily processed items such as cereals, protein bars, fizzy drinks, ready meals and fast food has soared in recent years.

In the UK and US, well over half the average diet now consists of ultra-processed food (UPF). For some, especially people who are younger, poorer or from disadvantaged areas, a diet comprising as much as 80 percent UPF is typical.

Stark new research adds to a growing body of evidence that experts say exposes a “tidal wave of harm” being caused directly by UPF. Two large studies presented at the world’s largest heart conference shoed the devastating impact UPF is having on cardiovascular health.

The first study, which tracked 10,000 women for 15 years, found that those with the highest proportion of UPF in their diet were 39 percent more likely to develop high blood pressure than those with the lowest. This was the case even after academics adjusted for the effect of salt, sugar and fat.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, increases the risk of serious heart conditions including heart disease, peripheral arterial disease, aortic aneurysms, kidney disease and vascular dementia.

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The second study, a gold-standard meta-analysis of more than 325,000 men and women, showed those who ate the most UPF were 24 percent more likely to have cardiovascular events including heart attacks, strokes and angina.

Increasing daily UPF consumption in calorie intake by 10 percent was associated with a 6 percent increased risk of heart disease. And those with UPF making up less than 15 percent of their diet were least at risk of any heart problems, according to the research led by the Fourth Military Medical University in Xi’an, China.

The findings were revealed at the annual meeting of the European Society of Cardiology in Amsterdam, where thousands of the world’s leading heart doctors, scientists and researchers were briefed on the studies. The results prompted calls from experts for urgent action.

Ultra-processed foods are products that have gone through multiple processes during manufacturing. They are often high in salt and sugar and may contain additives and preservatives. Often, the foods are low in fibre and lacking the nutrients present in fresh or minimally processed foods, such as fresh fruit and vegetables, plain yoghurt and homemade bread.

Previous studies have linked eating high levels of ultra-processed foods with a range of health problems including obesity, type 2 diabetes and cancer.