New Research Says UPFs Affect the Whole Body

Bad News Gummy Bears: Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are back in the headlines, and the newest findings are pretty striking. A new series of papers in The Lancet took a closer look at how UPFs — which now make up more than half of what the average American eats — are affecting us. What they found was surprising: diets high in UPFs may be linked to problems across almost every major organ system.

The Study: After reviewing 104 long-term studies, a panel of 43 experts found that people who eat a lot of UPFs showed higher risks of chronic diseases and earlier death. The research points to broad effects across every major organ system and an increased risk of a dozen health conditions, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and depression. It all suggests that our bodies may not be suited for diets dominated by these foods.

The Takeaway: The overall pattern is impossible to ignore: eating more meals built around less-processed foods tends to support better long-term health.

Keep in Mind: UPFs are still a fuzzy category, and many experts argue that focusing on goals such as reducing added sugar or excess sodium should address much of the problem.