The researchers tracked the ultra-processed food intake of more than 200,000 health professionals and followed up with them for about three decades to see if they developed heart disease or stroke .
The researchers determined that not all UPFs are bad — savory snacks, cold cereals and yogurt/dairy-based desserts were associated with a lower heart disease risk, and ultra-processed bread and cold cereals were linked to a lower stroke risk.
For their part, processed meats have been preserved by salting, curing, smoking or adding chemical preservatives. Salt can increase blood pressure while saturated fat can raise cholesterol.
There were some limitations to the Harvard study, including a lack of information about how the food was made. There were also very few non-white participants.
Still, the researchers say their findings suggest soft drinks and processed meats should be discouraged, and the nutritional quality of UPFs should be considered before consumption.
“Reducing the content of sodium, saturated fats, added sugars and cosmetic additives non-essential for human health in whole-grain bread, cold cereals and some savory snacks may enhance the otherwise nutritional value of these products in the US,” the study authors wrote.
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