Some Ultraprocessed Foods May Be Worse Than Others, Research Finds
Image Source: Scott Semler
Ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) are produced with multiple added ingredients using industrial processing that can't be replicated in a home kitchen. UPFs make up about 73% of the US food supply, account for 57% of the average adult's energy intake, including everything from sodas, candies and hot dogs to whole-grain breads, breakfast cereals, flavored yogurts and plant milks. Last month, one of the largest and longest studies on UPFs and heart health found that those who consumed the most UPFs were 23% more likely to develop coronary heart disease compared with the lowest consumers. Of the 10 UPF categories analyzed, two were clearly associated with greater risk: sugar-sweetened drinks (like soda and fruit punch) and processed meat, poultry and fish (like bacon, hot dogs, breaded fish, chicken sausages and salami sandwiches). Burgers or hot dogs? Burgers may be the healthier choice.
Heavy Metals, Including Lead, Found In Many Dark Chocolate Products, Study Finds
Image Source: Gabi Musat/Getty Images
New research found that dark chocolate products contain excessive lead and cadmium, two neurotoxic metals linked to cancer, chronic disease, or reproductive and developmental issues, especially in children. Published in the journal Frontiers In Nutrition, the study analyzed 72 dark cocoa products over an eight-year period and found that even organic dark chocolate contained high levels of heavy metals. Of the products tested, 43% exceeded the maximum allowable dose level for lead as established by California’s Proposition 65, while 35% exceeded the Prop 65 maximum allowable level for cadmium. Prop 65 sets a lead safety standard of .05 parts per million for chocolate, about half as much as the FDA's maximum allowable level.
Ultra-Processed Food May Increase Risk For Certain Cancers And Other Illnesses, Study Finds
Image Source: Dan Kitwood
Ultra-processed foods contain substances not found in home kitchens, such as high-fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors, color enhancers, emulsifiers, and anti-caking agents. A recent umbrella study of more than 9 million people published in the British Medical Journal found that people who overconsume these foods have an increased risk of anxiety, depression, obesity, metabolic syndrome, colorectal cancer, and premature death. You might want to go easy on that leftover Easter candy.
Red Wine Loses Its Health Halo
Image Source: Aileen Son
Red wine contains a polyphenol, resveratrol, that's good for your heart, right? Wrong. The French Paradox (French people eat food high in saturated fat but have low rates of heart disease) is due to red wine's heart-protective effects, right? Wrong. The red-wine studies of yore have now been thoroughly contradicted. Today's science shows that even one drink per day, of any alcohol, can increase your risk of heart disease. Alcohol (including wine) is also a carcinogen, according to health agencies such as the World Health Organization, and no amount of any alcohol is safe. Damn. What am I going to do with all my expensive bottles of red wine? And bourbon? I think you know the answer.
Why Pasta And Rice May Be Healthier As Leftovers
Image Source: Amanda Hakan
You've seen spurious headlines like "Eat Chocolate Cake—Lose 50 Pounds!" But this one has some scientific backing. When cooled after cooking, the starch in some high-carb foods like pasta and rice changes in structure, forming what's known as resistant starch. Resistant starch is harder to digest, so some of the sugars are not absorbed into the bloodstream. That helps reduce blood sugar spikes and may help reduce diabetes and obesity risk. With fewer absorbable sugars, resistant starches also contain about half the calories per gram as freshly cooked starches. The moral? Try cooking your pasta and rice ahead of time. It may do a body good!
