Ultra-Processed Foods Concerns, Controversies, and Exceptions

Higher intake of ultra-processed foods has been associated with a laundry list of ailments. It makes sense that greater consumption would be associated with more dental cavities, thanks to their sugar, obesity, thanks to their concentration of calories, and an increased risk of high blood pressure, thanks to their salt, which is linked to higher rates of cardiovascular events, like heart attacks and strokes. And, since cardiovascular diseases are our leading killers, it also makes sense that excess intake of ultra-processed foods could lead to increased overall mortality. But why are ultra-processed foods associated with more cancer, dementia, inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome, chronic kidney disease, type 2 diabetes, and myriad other chronic diseases and mental health disorders? In Ultra-Processed Foods: Concerns, Controversies, and Exceptions, Dr. Greger investigates the 16 factors proposed to account for these findings, including additives, industrial contaminants, and packaging chemicals.