Frequent consumption of ultra-processed foods can significantly increase the risk of serious cardiovascular diseases.
Report states that chips, sausages, sugary drinks, ready meals, and fast food as breakfast are included in this group of foods.
The study showed that people who consume more than nine servings of these foods daily have a 67% higher likelihood of heart attacks, strokes, or death from cardiovascular diseases compared to those who rarely eat them.
At the beginning of the study, more than 6,800 people aged 45-84 without heart disease were included. Scientists monitored their health and analyzed their diets using questionnaires.
The risk increased gradually: each additional daily serving increased the likelihood of adverse events by approximately 5%.
Furthermore, this effect persisted even after accounting for factors such as calorie intake, diet quality, obesity, diabetes, and hypertension.
This means that the risk may be related not only to calories or content but also to the level of food processing.
The mechanisms of this effect are not yet fully understood, but previous studies indicate that such foods promote inflammation, internal fat accumulation, and metabolic disorders—all of which are major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.