(PatriotPostNews.com) – Evidence that highly processed foods can lead to illness is growing alongside the daily consumption of those meals in America.
Extremely processed foods line grocery and convenience stores throughout the United States, from refined carbohydrates in bread and cereal products, soda and other drinks high in sugar and artificial sweeteners, to packaged snacks and desserts. The same low organic and nutrient-dense components of these products are also found in highly consumed fast food.
Over the years, extensive research has been conducted to understand the impact of highly processed foods on health. One study released this year in the British Medical Journal shows that individuals who eat a lot of highly processed foods face a greater risk of developing mental health issues like anxiety and depression as well as physical problems, including obesity, cancer, metabolic syndrome, and even early death.
Other research from 2023 considered the specific role of processed food in the development of colorectal cancer. The study, which included symptoms and diagnoses from 142,052 participants, showed that patients who consumed the highest amounts of processed food were at roughly three times the risk of being diagnosed with this type of cancer compared to those who consumed the least amount in the cohorts.
A nutritious diet has also been steadily linked to fewer symptoms of depression and other mental health ailments. Certain eating habits, such as the popular anti-inflammatory Mediterranean method, have been shown to decrease the risk of depression. Additional research suggests that consuming more whole foods and fewer processed foods improves symptoms of anxiety as well.
Wolfgang Marx, one of the authors of the newly released findings in the British Medical Journal, has said that symptoms of depression are appearing at much higher rates among individuals who eat highly processed foods. Specifically, he noted that there is an increased risk of these symptoms—between 20 and 50%—for those with diets high in processed meals.
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