Disturbing new study uncovers the dangers of eating a lot of UPFs

When it comes to deciding which foods we should be increasing our intake of, and which meals we should be avoiding at all costs, there are a plethora of 'experts' on hand for us to consult.

The issue with having a multitude of doctors, nutritionists, psychologists, activists, personal trainers at our beck and call for dietary queries - particularly since the rise of 'TikTok expertise' - is that theories can often prove conflicting.

In fact, it can feel impossible to distinguish between fact and fiction when it comes to food that will help or hinder us.

One voice which should be heard among the countless culinary advisories, however, is that of the US' National Cancer Institute, which has recently conducted a study that has discovered one particular food group - known as UPFs - is contributing to a large number of premature deaths.

Ultra processed food has been found to contribute to a high morality rate. (Jordi Salas/Getty)

What are UPFs?

UPF is a term used to describe ultra processed foods - items formed industrially that are derived from natural foods.

These typically have one or more ingredient that you'd struggle to find in an average kitchen, and commonly include synthetic substances like additives, preservatives, emulsifiers, sweeteners, artificial colours or flavours.

And while items that fall under this category might be tasty - with the majority of fast food items considered to be ultra processed - and often have a lengthy shelf-life, they are said to be detrimental to our health.

What are the dangers?

According to a new study conducted by the National Cancer Institute, adults aged between 50-71 that are regular consumers of UPFs are 10 percent more likely to die over an average follow-up period of 23 years compared to those with a healthier diet.

Sugary, carbonated drinks found to be one of the most unhealthy of processed foods. (Virojt Changyencham/Getty)

Data from over 540,000 people was gathered in the 1990s, but since then, over half of the participants have passed away.

In fact, high consumption of these meals - which often include the likes of mass-produced bread, carbonated drinks, breakfast cereals and instant soups - was associated with a 'modest increases in death from any cause and from deaths related specifically to heart disease or diabetes'.

"Our study results indicate that ultra-processed food intake adversely impacts health and longevity," said NCI representative Erikka Loftfield, adding that the study determined no association for cancer-related deaths, however.

"Highly processed meat and soft drinks were a couple of the subgroups of ultra-processed food most strongly associated with mortality risk."

What does this mean for us?

The study's finds have been described as ground-breaking. (Jonathan Knowles/Getty)

Well, being that the study also found that people who consumed more ultra-processed foods also tended to have higher body mass index, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine professor Rosie Green says the research has been ground-breaking.

Speaking to The i, the explained: "The authors have accounted for many potential confounders of the relationship, including the general healthiness of diets, which has not always been adjusted for in other studies.

"They found that UPFs are associated with a slight increased risk of death. However, the diets of the participants were measured 30 years ago and so it’s difficult to say how dietary habits might have changed between then and now."