Loading Up on These Foods Sends Death Risk Rising

By Dr. Scott Olson, ND Posted June 30, 2024

You’ve probably heard the buzz about ultra-processed foods being bad for your health.

In fact, if you’re a regular Living Well Daily Reader, you may recall that last week I warned you about the link between this junk and dementia.

(If you missed that issue, CLICK HERE to catch up.)

Well, guess what? Those ultra-processed-food dangers everyone’s been on about are all true!

Ultra-processed foods are found in nearly every aisle of the grocery store.

They include packaged snacks, sugary drinks, instant noodles, ready meals, and almost anything with a long list of unpronounceable ingredients, preservatives, emulsifiers, sweeteners, and artificial flavorings.

Well, according to a shocking new study published in the BMJ, ultra-processed foods make up a whopping 60 percent of most people’s energy intake.

The observational study followed the health of 74,563 female nurses and 39,501 male health professionals in the U.S. over an incredible 34 years.

The researchers found that those participants who ate the least amount of ultra-processed foods (about three servings per day) had a four percent lower risk of death compared to those who ate the most (around seven servings per day).

Now, I know four percent may not look like a sizable number at first glance. But let’s be honest, when it comes to your risk of DYING, every single percentage point is huge.

It’s infuriating that we’ve been tricked into letting these junk foods infiltrate our diets to such an extent. We must take a stand and start prioritizing eating real, whole foods that nourish our bodies instead of the fake foods that are slowly destroying them.

Don’t let the food industry fool you its flashy packaging and empty promises. The following are some of the WORST ultra-processed food offenders you should immediately start to avoid like the plague:

• Sugary drinks: Soda, energy drinks, and sweetened teas are loaded with empty calories and contribute to obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. In the new study, sugar-sweetened AND artificially sweetened beverages were in second place for a link to the highest and most consistent increased death risk.
• Packaged snacks: Chips, crackers, and cookies are often high in unhealthy fats, refined carbs, and added sugars.
• Processed meats and seafood: Hot dogs, deli meat, and other highly processed meats and seafood are linked to an increased risk of cancer and heart disease. In the new study, they were also linked to the highest and most consistent increased death risk.
• Frozen dinners: Most ready-made meals are high in sodium, unhealthy fats, and additives, and lack essential nutrients.
• Candy and desserts: Candy bars, gummies, cake, and other sugary treats offer nothing but empty calories and inflammatory added sugars, which contribute to tooth decay. The new research revealed they rated high on the list of foods linked to a higher and consistent increased death risk.
• Fried foods: Fried foods are often coated in empty carb coatings and fried in unhealthy, easily oxidized vegetable oils, which lead to dangerous inflammation.

It’s not just that these foods are bad for you. They also displace beneficial, healthy foods you could be eating instead.

Remember, your health is in your hands. So start making better choices TODAY.

P.S. WARNING…this heart attack trigger is likely in your pantry RIGHT NOW.

Source:

Fang Z, Rossato S L, Hang D, Khandpur N, Wang K, Lo C et al. Association of ultra-processed food consumption with all cause and cause specific mortality: population based cohort study, BMJ 2024; 385: e078476

Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.

View More By Dr. Scott Olson, ND