This includes, for example, ready-made products that you can buy in the supermarket or at a fast food restaurant.
Researchers followed more than 500,000 people for nearly 30 years and found that eating a diet heavy in processed foods can shorten a person’s lifespan by 14 to 15 percent.
The biggest culprits were soft drinks and sugary drinks, as well as processed meats such as bacon, sausage and cold cuts.
Another study found that consumption of ultra-processed foods doubled between 1980 and 2018. Researchers estimate that this food group makes up as much as 60% of the average American diet.
“They lead to inflammation, they lead to more fat storage, which leads to high sodium levels, which leads to increased blood pressure, which also increases your risk of stroke. Artificial ingredients have also been linked to cancer, processed meat in particular is considered a carcinogen,” says Julia Zumpano, a registered dietitian and nutritionist.
According to Zumpano, choosing single-ingredient foods will make a big difference in your long-term health.
“Like an apple, grape, orange cucumber, potato, chicken, all those single-ingredient foods – those are the foods we really want to focus on,” she says.
Zumpano says that if you crave junk food, it’s best to eat it occasionally.