Ultra-processed foods may be causing serious damage to cardiovascular health

Ultra-processed foods may be causing serious damage to cardiovascular health
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Ultra-processed foods, which now make up a large share of modern diets, may be linked to a significantly higher risk of heart disease, according to a new U.S. study cited on Earth.com.

Researchers from Florida Atlantic University analyzed data from 4,787 adults who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2021 and 2023. Participants provided detailed dietary records and reported whether they had ever experienced a heart attack or stroke. The researchers calculated the proportion of daily calories derived from ultra-processed foods and grouped participants by intake level.

After adjusting for factors such as age, sex, smoking status, income, and ethnicity, the study found that adults with the highest consumption of ultra-processed foods had a 47% higher risk of cardiovascular disease compared with those with the lowest intake. Cardiovascular disease was defined as a self-reported history of heart attack or stroke.

The authors emphasized that the findings show an association rather than direct causation but warned that ultra-processed foods may be linked to real disease outcomes, not just metabolic risk markers. They called for stronger public health guidance to make healthier food options more accessible. The study was published in The American Journal of Medicine.