Excessive consumption of processed foods and the risks to human health

Ultra-processed foods refer to edible industrial products that have gone through multiple transformation processes, generally containing ingredients and additives such as salts, flavorings, substances, preservatives, colorings, emulsifiers, thickeners; among others, that are not used in home cooking. Common examples are soft drinks, packaged snacks, candy, fast foods, cereals with added sugar, and certain types of bread and so on. On this topic, the nutrition graduate, Rocío Begazo Arteaga, a graduate of the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, provided important information on this subject.

These foods are characterized by their low nutritional value, often being high in sugars, unhealthy fats, and sodium, but low in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. And they are tempting to anyone’s palate because these products are designed to be highly tasty and often addictive, promoting excessive consumption.

So in a normal diet the question is: should these ultra-processed foods be included. The response of Ms. Begazo in the program, Your health in Cayetano, hosted by Dr. Leslie Soto, and broadcast on YouTube, recommends that all consumption of these foods should be in moderation, “if it is very sporadically at a meeting, do not There is a problem, but when this consumption becomes continuous, then it can harm your health.”

Likewise, Ms. Begazo indicated her concern about childhood obesity, considering it as a global public health problem that has increased significantly in recent decades; precisely due to the consumption of ultra-processed foods.

He stated that “due to the high rate of overweight obesity in children, in Peru We have Law 30021 for the Promotion of Healthy Eating for Boys, Girls and Adolescents, which establishes the criteria, the parameters for foods to have octagons”, which allows the consumer to be informed which foods and drinks have a high sodium content, sugar, sodium, salt, fat, saturated fat and trans fat.

Ms. Begazo warned how these ultra-processed foods are associated with an increase in the incidence of several chronic diseases and adverse health conditions.

“For example, sausages usually have nitrites and nitrates as preservatives. Fast food foods have been subjected to high temperatures and can form substances such as acrylamide, which is a carcinogenic substance. We also have dyes such as tartrazine, an input that has the potential to generate allergic reactions. As well as flavor enhancers such as monosodium glutamate.”

Ultra-processed foods tend to be high in calories and low in nutrients, which can lead to excessive calorie consumption and therefore weight gain and obesity.

The high intake of added sugars and unhealthy fats in these foods can contribute to insulin resistance, a precursor to type 2 diabetes.

Consumption of saturated and trans fats, found in many ultra-processed foods, can increase cholesterol levels (the “bad”) and reduce cholesterol levels (the “good”), increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke. .

The high salt content in many ultra-processed foods can lead to an increase in blood pressure, which is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Some studies have suggested a possible relationship between the consumption of ultra-processed foods and an increased risk of certain types of cancer, such as colorectal cancer, possibly due to the additives and preservatives present in these foods.

The lack of fiber and the presence of artificial additives in ultra-processed foods can negatively affect digestive health, contributing to problems such as irritable bowel syndrome and intestinal dysbiosis.

Diets high in ultra-processed foods have been found to be associated with an increased risk of depression, possibly due to low nutritional quality and the negative effects of additives on the brain.

Some studies have indicated that high consumption of ultra-processed foods may be related to the risk of osteoporosis, due to low intake of essential nutrients such as calcium and vitamin D.

Finally, Ms. Begazo indicated that the key to a healthy diet lies in limiting the consumption of ultra-processed foods and focusing on a diet rich in fresh and minimally processed foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats. Adopting healthier eating patterns can not only reduce the risk of the aforementioned diseases, but also improve overall quality of life.