Cardiovascular and diabetes risks rise: 'Remove ultra-processed foods immediately'

Experts are urging the public to significantly reduce their intake of ultra-processed foods, warning that these items can elevate the risk of various chronic illnesses, including heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer.

A video shared on the YouTube channel 'The Pharmacist Tells You About Medicine' featured pharmacist Ko Sang-on highlighting the dangers of ultra-processed foods. He described them as detrimental to mental health and a cause of adult diseases, high blood pressure, and hyperlipidemia, emphasizing the immediate need to remove them from diets.

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These are bad foods that adversely affect mental health, increase adult diseases, raise blood pressure, and cause hyperlipidemia. Ultra-processed foods must be removed immediately.

Ko cited a study from Johns Hopkins University that analyzed data from approximately 10 million individuals. The findings indicated that those who consumed large amounts of ultra-processed foods faced a 50% higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease, a 12% increased risk of diabetes, and a 20% greater overall mortality risk compared to those who consumed less.

Among the commonly consumed ultra-processed foods, Ko identified sugary drinks, such as orange drinks with added liquid fructose, as particularly problematic. He warned that fructose can burden the liver, leading to toxicity and fatty liver disease, and can also serve as a direct energy source for cancer cells.

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Fructose can burden the liver, cause liver toxicity and fatty liver, and cancer cells can directly use it as an energy source.

Processed meats like sausages, ham, and bacon were ranked second. These are classified as Group 1 carcinogens by the World Health Organization (WHO). The additive sodium nitrite in processed meats can convert into the carcinogen nitrosamine during cooking and within the body. Ko stated that consuming more than 50 grams of processed meat daily could increase the risk of coronary heart disease by 40% and colorectal cancer by 18%.

French fries were also highlighted, with Ko explaining that the high-temperature cooking process generates the carcinogen acrylamide from amino acids in the potatoes. Additionally, the conversion of cooking oil into trans fats poses further health risks, contributing to adult diseases and direct damage to blood vessels.

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Consuming more than 50g of processed meat per day can increase the risk of coronary heart disease by 40% and colorectal cancer by 18%.