Consumption of ultra-processed foods presents adverse symptoms for mental health
study led by researchers from schmidt school of medicine From Florida Atlantic University (United States) have concluded that people who consume high amounts of ultra-processed foods have more adverse symptoms for mint healthAle
food though ultra processed Whether they are convenient, low cost, quick to prepare or ready to eat, these industrial formulations of processed foods (oils, fats, sugars, starches, protein isolates) contain little or no whole food.
They are the result of the broad «“Physical, biological and chemical processes” that create food products lacking in original and natural foods. Ultra-processed foods often include flavorings, dyes, emulsifiers, and other cosmetic additives.
Although there is some evidence on the consumption of highly-processed foods and depression, data on other adverse symptoms is scarce. mental healthLike days of anxiety and insomnia.
This work analyzed a representative sample of the United States population to determine whether significantly higher numbers are present in those who consume large amounts of ultra-processed foods. adverse symptoms For mental health, such as depression, anxiety and mentally unhealthy days.
They measured the number of days of mild depression, the number of days of mental illness, and the number of days of anxiety in 10,359 adults over the age of 18. National Survey of Health and Nutrition of the United States.
Study results published in scientific journal public health nutrition, showed that individuals who ate the most highly-processed foods compared to those who ate the least had a statistically significant increase in adverse mental health symptoms of mild depression, “unhealthy days” and “unhealthy days”.worried day.
They had a significantly lower rate of reporting zero “mentally unsound days” and zero.anxious day, The results of this study are generalizable to similar consumption of ultra-processed foods across the United States, as well as for other Western countries.
“Over-processing of foods reduces their nutritional value and also increases calorie count, as do ultra-processed foods. being high in added sugarssaturated fat and salt, while they are low in protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals,” said Eric Hecht, one of the leaders of the research.
