List of foods ‘worse for you than smoking’ as doctor issues serious warningYou might need to make some changes to your weekly shop James Moorhouse Here's a list of foods that you might want to keep in mind the next time you do your weekly shop. While appearing on the Diary of a CEO podcast, NHS doctor Chris van Tulleken suggested that ultra-processed foods (UPFS) have 'overtaken tobacco as the leading cause of early death on planet Earth'. He even went as far as to claim they should be classed as 'industrially processed edible substances' rather than food. According to the British Heart Foundation, ultra-processed foods often contain additives and ingredients not common in everyday cooking, such as preservatives, emulsifiers, sweeteners, and artificial colours and flavours. As well as this, they also tend to have high levels of saturated fat, salt and sugar, and it's been previously suggested that the additives in UPFS may negatively impact our health. Dr Chris van Tulleken spoke about the health impacts of ultra-processed foods (YouTube/Diary of a CEO) A 2024 review from the British Medical Journal (BMJ) looking at 10 million participants over 45 studies suggests that eating more ultra-processed foods could lead to a higher mortality rate and has some connections to conditions like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and mental health disorders. So what foods should we avoid on our big shop if we want to truly treat our body as a temple? Supermarket breadEven though we've all been told growing up that wholemeal and brown bread is good for us, the reality is that none of the mass-produced stuff is particularly good for the body, and a quick look at the often gigantic ingredient lists might give you a clue as to why. According to the National Library of Medicine, bread also accounts for 11 per cent of the calories we ingest, so it's worth getting some that has minimal additives to help you limit the amount of UPFs you consume. The good news here is that it should encourage you to visit your local bakery for some fresh bread that not only tastes way nicer, but is also clearly far better for your health. Failing that, we can all go back five years in time and start making our own sourdoughs again. You might be better off in a bakery (Getty Stock) Energy drinksWhile they might be the go-to before an early work shift or after a gym session, energy drinks aren't always what they are made out to be. According to Harvard Health, energy drinks contain caffeine and sugar, and a Consumer Reports study found that 27 energy drinks contained between six and 242 milligrams per serving. As with anything, moderation is key to avoiding serious issues; the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says 400 mg per day is usually safe for adults. However, regular consumption can lead to serious health issues, particularly for the heart. UC Davis Health says energy drinks can cause irregular heart rhythm, as well as an increased heart rate and blood pressure, which are both risk factors of heart disease. Energy drinks often have a ton of caffeine in them (Getty stock images) Breakfast cerealsThe biggest culprit in most breakfast cereals is added sugar. According to the NHS, eating too much sugar can cause weight gain and tooth decay. Meanwhile, Assistant Professor of Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of North Dakota, Nathaniel Johnson, said in The Conversation that consuming sugary cereal can increase hunger and trigger greater insulin release, which could contribute to the development of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. The recommended amount of sugar for an adult is no more than 30g a day, while for children, it is 24 grams. While you can find some low-sugar or minimally processed options, such as porridge and bran flakes, adding additional sugars and sweeteners impairs their health benefits, according to a 2025 study on the National Library of Medicine. Breakfast cereals are often high in sugar (Getty Stock) Hot dogsA staple at sports matches, particularly in the UK and the US, the humble hot dog is one of the earliest examples of a UPF. The World Health Organisation (WHO) classifies processed meats, including ham, bacon, and hot dogs, as part of a Group 1 carcinogen, which is known to cause cancer. The NHS says that eating a lot of processed and red meat is linked with an increased risk of bowel cancer. Meanwhile, Lakeview Cardiology of Texas says processed sausages tend to be high in saturated fats, sodium, and chemical preservatives like nitrates and nitrites, which are linked to an increased risk of heart disease and hypertension. Sausages, like hot dogs, can be highly processed (Getty Stock) Vegan meat and cheeseVegans love to tell you how healthy they are, and often they're not wrong, as they can follow a more natural diet that focuses on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and nuts. However, if they still want the taste of bacon without the guilty conscience, they might have to settle for some ultra-processed options, which aren't exactly the healthiest. These meat substitutes often contain additives and emulsifiers that make plant proteins look and taste as much like meat as possible. According to the British Heart Foundation, vegan meat alternatives are high in added fats, salt, sugar, and artificial ingredients. The same goes for dairy alternatives, like vegan cheese, which is also low in protein and calcium. Vegan meat alternative might not be so healthy after all (Getty stock images) Chicken nuggetsThe go-to meal for a fussy child or a hungover student, we've probably all heard the horror stories about what's actually inside chicken nuggets. While the meat content varies by brand, you're likely to find a combination of tendons, skin, bone, collagen, and fat inside the delicious treat. Protein levels are therefore lower, and the end result is often high in fat, sugar and salt. How they are cooked is also something to consider, as WebMD reports that nuggets are cooked in hydrogenated oil, which is high in fat and preservatives. Nuggets might be tasty but they're rarely healthy (Getty Stock) Reformulated potato snacksThis feels like a fancy way of saying 'crisps', and that's essentially it: many of the salty snacks we love to enjoy alongside our pints contain dehydrated processed potato, refined vegetable oils, rice and wheat flour, emulsifiers, salt and colouring. The National University of Singapore says that a diet high in trans-fat could lead to obesity, heart disease, and liver disease. Regularly consuming fried potato snacks in general, including chips, also increases the chance of a type 2 diabetes diagnosis, according to Harvard University researchers. Their study on the BMJ says that 'the high starch content of potatoes, leading to a high glycemic index and load, combined with possible loss of nutrients and possible health risks resulting from various cooking methods, could contribute to adverse health outcomes'. Potato snacks are high in additives and salts (Getty Stock) MargarineThe British Heart Foundation says that butter contains around 50 per cent saturated fat, while margarine is 50 per cent less. However, margarine is high in unsaturated fats as it combines vegetable oils, like sunflower, olive, and rapeseed, with small amounts of oils, such as palm or coconut, to make it solid. Margarine is also considered an ultra-processed food, as extra ingredients, like emulsifiers and artificial colours, are also added. It is important to note that both butter and margarine are processed foods; therefore, it is recommended to check the labels for fat and salt content. Margarine can have a few additional ingredients (Getty Stock) Ready mealsAs previously mentioned, things that are quick and easy to make are rarely going to have good ingredients, and while it's a hammer blow to students and tired workers everywhere, the ready meal is included in that. According to Action on Salt, last year, one in five ready meals contained high levels of salt and saturated fat. "Excess salt consumption is directly linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke," they write. Dr Helen Flaherty, Registered Public Health Nutritionist and Director of Health Promotion and Education at Heart Research UK, told The i Paper in 2024 that regular consumption of ready meals can contribute to weight gain, high blood pressure, and cholesterol levels, which increases the risk of coronary heart disease. Ready meals can be full of fat (Getty stock images) How to cut down on ultra-processed foodWhile there is evidence suggesting the negative impacts of consistently eating ultra-processed foods, the British Heart Foundation says it is still unclear whether we need to cut them out entirely. Plus, according to the NHS, not all processed foods are made equally and looking at food labels can help when it comes to choosing what to eat. The British Heart Foundation also recommends swapping processed versions for healthier options, such as fruit, vegetables, fish, and unsaturated oils. ARTICLE SOURCE: https://www.ladbible.com/news/health/doctor-health-warning-smoking-ultra-processed-foods-351011-20260324
Featured by Guest
Vegan fake meats are linked to increase in heart deaths
Experts say plant-based diets can boost health – but NOT if they are ultra-processed
Story by Rebecca Whittaker For Mailonline and Kate Pickles Health Editor For The Daily Mail
Replacing meat and dairy with plant-based swaps might not be the simple health hack you think it is.
Although eating fresh vegetables is linked with a lower risk of cardiovascular diseases, you may want to reconsider how many vegan burgers and cakes you tuck into.
Scientists found opting for ultra-processed plant-based products — such as vegan sausages burgers intended to replace animal-based foods, as well as cakes and crisps — is linked with 15 per cent higher risk of suffering heart attacks and strokes.
That's according to analysis of more than 118,000 participants' diets from the UK Biobank study.
Packed with fat, salt and laden with sugar ultra-processed foods have long been vilified for increasing heart attack and stroke risk.
Now research published in Lancet Regional Health - Europe, suggests these dangers are even present in plant-based UPF's, with a high consumption linked to a 15 per cent increase in heart death.
The research, which involved experts from Imperial College London, utilised data from more than 118,000 Brits, aged 40 to 69 years, who had their diets assessed over at least two days.
Scientists split food into plant-based products, such as fruit, vegetables, grains, bread, as well as cakes and sweets, and animal-based products such as fish, poultry, red meat, eggs and dairy.
The two groups were then further divided into either ultra processed (UPF) and non-ultra processed.
This data was then linked to hospital and mortality records to obtain information on cardiovascular diseases.
People who ate a lot of plant-based ultra-processed foods had a 7 per cent greater risk of suffering conditions like blocked heart vessels and had a 15 per cent heightened risk of dying when compared to vegetarians whose diets had less.
Upping intake of none-processed vegetarian foods – such as fresh fruit and vegetables – by 10 per cent was linked to an 8 per cent lower risk of getting heart disease.
Deaths from heart disease fell by a fifth in vegetarians who consumed the least UPFs and 13 per cent in cardiovascular disease overall – caused by a build-up of fatty deposits inside the arteries.
Dr Eszter Vamos, co-author of the study, from Imperial College London’s School of Public Health, said: ‘Fresh plant-based foods such as fruits and vegetables, wholegrains and legumes are known to have important health and environmental benefits.
‘While ultra-processed foods are often marketed as healthy foods, this large study suggests that plant-based ultra-processed foods do not seem to have protective health effects and are linked to poor health outcomes.’
Food additives and industrial contaminants present in these foods could cause oxidative stress and inflammation, the scientists suggest.
They added that nutritional guidelines promoting plant-based diets and cutting down on meat must also promote the importance of avoiding UPFs for good heart health.
Study author Dr Fernanda Rauber, an expert in preventative medicine from the University of São Paulo in Brazil, said the it's the first to show plant-based ultra-processed foods are associated with increased the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
'Despite being plant-based, these foods may contribute to risk factors such as dyslipidemia and hypertension due to their composition and processing methods,' she said.
'Food additives and industrial contaminants present in these foods might cause oxidative stress and inflammation, further aggravating the risks.
'Therefore, our results support the shift towards plant-based food choices that consider the degree of processing to improve cardiovascular health outcomes.'
But independent experts said it was critical the study's findings are out into context.
They highlighted how research study lumped all plant-based UPFs together a process that included crisps, cakes, sweets and other fatty foods known to be bad for our heart health.
Professor Gunter Kuhnle, an expert in nutrition and food science at the University of Reading said: 'The results of the latest study on ultra-processed food are not surprising, as “plant-based ultra-processed foods” include foods that are well known to have an adverse effect on health: foods that are high in sugar, fat and salt.'
'The foods included are for example “pastries, buns and cakes”, “confectionary” and “soft drinks” – and their impact on health has been well known before the concept of ultra-processing has been popular,' he added.
'This might cause confusion among casual readers, as it could be misunderstood as plant-based alternatives to animal products such as plant-based drinks or meat alternatives. However, these foods appear to contribute only a small amount of total “UPF” intake in this study,' Professor Kuhnle stresses.
He adds that it's also 'not surprising' that eating more minimally processed food, such as fruit and vegetables, was a positive for heart health.
Dr Duane Mellor, dietitian and spokesperson for British Dietetic Association also said the way the study was designed needed to be considered.
'It explored the effects of all plant based ultra-processed foods – although this included plant-based meat alternatives, these only made up 0.2 per cent of the energy from ultra-processed foods consumed by participants who were followed during the study,' he said.
'The main foods which were considered as plant-based ultra-processed foods were processed baked foods including packaged breads, pastries and cake and biscuits along with crisps and soft drinks,' he said.
Dr Mellor added: 'So this study possibly highlights the problem that many foods that do not contain animal products, which includes biscuits, crisps, confectionary and soft drinks, are technically plant based but would not be considered essential as part of a healthy diet by the majority of people.
'So, it is important to emphasise that just because a food or drink is technically plant based, it does not mean it is healthy.'
Dr Hilda Mulrooney, a nutrition & health expert from London Metropolitan University, said the findings will ‘cause a stir’.
She said: ‘It is an area well worth exploring; I don’t agree with the premise that just because something is "plant-based", it is automatically healthy.
‘However, I also don’t think when people think of "plant-based" they think of bread, cereals etc. I imagine they think more of meat, fish and dairy product alternatives.’
She added: ‘Although some may assume the message of this study is that all ultra-processed plant-based foods are bad for health, I think that in fact what the evidence in the study actually shows is that poor diets are associated with increased risk of chronic diseases.’
Dr Mulrooney also believes there are limitations to the study.
She said: 'The study remains limited to showing associations and causality cannot be demonstrated. It also relies entirely on the NOVA classification system and a number of concerns about this have been raised – particularly that it assumes that the health implications of a foodstuff are based only on the degree of processing, rather than their nutritional content.
'For example, breakfast cereals are classed as ultra-processed and therefore should be avoided according to the rationale of the authors, but we know from the NDNS in the UK that breakfast cereals are important contributors to intakes of several nutrients.'
UPFs are foods that have undergone various modifications to extend their shelf life or make them more appealing to the consumer, or sometimes both.
An easy sign a food could be a UPF is if it contains ingredients you wouldn't find in your kitchen cupboard, such as unrecognisable colourings, sweeteners and preservatives.
Another clue is the amount of fat, salt and sugar lurking inside each pack, with UPFs typically containing high amounts.
ARTICLE SOURCE: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/vegan-fake-meats-are-linked-to-increase-in-heart-deaths/ar-BB1nYBKR?
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