Eye-opening study into ultra-processed foods and your risk of heart problemsMichelle Basch | *****@*****.tld March 28, 2026, 5:39 AM A report from the American College of Cardiology found people who eat more than nine servings of ultra-processed food a day are an average of 67% more likely to have a heart attack or stroke, or die from heart disease than people who eat one serving a day. The study also found that with each daily serving, the risk of such an event goes up by more than 5%. Among Black Americans, each additional serving leads to an increase in risk of more than 6%. Dr. Michele Arthurs, a lifestyle medicine physician with Kaiser Permanente, told WTOP that if you’re not sure what you’re eating is ultra-processed, just look at the label. “You can see a long list of ingredients, many of which you may not be able to pronounce because they are additives or chemicals that are used for food preservation to increase shelf life,” she said. These kinds of foods also tend to be loaded with sugar, salt and saturated fat. “Our body, essentially, has to fight with them in order to kind of process them and get them through our system. And this leads to inflammation in the body,” Arthurs said. She recognized that many people may find it tough to stop eating ultra-processed foods altogether. Instead, she recommends limiting how much you eat. “It doesn’t mean you can’t have that ballpark hot dog,” Arthurs said, adding that cutting it in half and sharing it with someone was also an option. Other strategies Arthurs recommends to reduce the consumption of ultra-processed foods include: Eat a healthy meal before you head to an event, like a baseball game, where you know you’ll be exposed to a lot of ultra-processed foods. If you like sugary drinks, try alternating with ones that have little or no sugar. If you love snacking on chips, bring along an orange too, and eat the fruit before diving into the bag of chips. The findings, based on data from more than 6,800 U.S. adults, is being presented at the ACC’s Annual Scientific Session on March 28-30 in New Orleans. They’re also published in the journal JACC Advances. Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here. © 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. ARTICLE SOURCE: https://wtop.com/health-fitness/2026/03/eye-opening-study-into-ultra-processed-foods-and-your-risk-of-heart-problems/
Sort of a funny but very real at the same time.
I posted earlier about using the protein drinks for the extra protein and found that they also boosted my hunger quite a bit. I have used that extra appetite to get in some more fat and protein a couple times per week. Maybe turning what could be a negative into a positive.
At first, I called it my affirmation that sugar can drive/signal hunger. I only used a little sugar but I think my body used it to signal for more which leads me to tonight's funny (very real but funny)
I have not had cravings since I started (got lucky) and I stepped away from carbs and sugars with relative ease (and I ate them by the buckets to get to well over 300lbs). Never had a craving as I walked thru the aisles at the grocery stores, even at the end caps that are designed to grab your attention. Zero cravings.
This afternoon it was over 100F when I got in the truck and night shift in the plant will not get below 100F til the early morning hours. I bought ice cream for my shift as a small gesture as they are performing well in this heat.
I walked by the freezer earlier and I now totally confused, as:
A: I have a sugar addiction I didn't see or realize, and the recent re-introduction has created this craving for that ice cream in the freezer, or...
B: I am so cheap it is killing me to know I paid $60 for ice cream and not eating any of it.
Things I ponder on night shift.
Scott