London, May 20 (SANA) A growing body of research links ultra-processed foods to increased risks of heart disease, obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular death, according to a report published in the European Heart Journal.
The report, issued by the European Society of Cardiology’s Council for Cardiology Practice and the European Association of Preventive Cardiology, reviewed studies across Europe examining the effects of ultra-processed foods on cardiovascular health.
Researchers said adults with the highest intake of ultra-processed foods faced up to a 19% greater risk of heart disease, a 13% higher risk of atrial fibrillation and as much as a 65% increased risk of cardiovascular death compared with those consuming the least.
The report said ultra-processed foods account for 61% of calorie intake in the Netherlands and 54% in Britain, compared with 25% in Spain, 22% in Portugal and 18% in Italy.
Professor Luigina Guasti of the University of Insubria in Italy said ultra-processed foods, made from industrial ingredients and additives, had increasingly replaced traditional diets and were associated with obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure.
Researchers said such foods are often high in sugar, salt and unhealthy fats, while additives and altered food structures may contribute to inflammation, metabolic disorders and overeating.
The report urged doctors to ask patients about ultra-processed food consumption and encourage healthier eating habits alongside advice on exercise, smoking and alcohol use.
Researchers added that more long-term studies were needed to determine whether reducing ultra-processed food intake directly improves cardiovascular health.
The findings were published in a clinical consensus statement in the European Heart Journal on May 6.
The European Heart Journal is a peer-reviewed cardiology journal published weekly by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. It was first published in February 1980.
M.F / ABD
