Consuming ultra-processed foods can cause weight gain, study states
| May 20, 2019, 11:22 IST
Remember how people during the olden times were fit as a fiddle even when they were in their late 80s? Turns out, it was all due to healthy lifestyle choices that they made. Of course, it also helped that there were no other options back then like the ones that we have. They didn't have the option of eating junk or processed foods but unfortunately, we do. So, all of you trying to lose weight listen up; a new study has found that consuming too many ultra-processed foods can lead to weight gain which is why you need to cut them out of your diet.
Researchers have even been looking at links between processed foods and cancer and they now believe that consuming ultra-processed foods could also lead to an early death. The researchers then conducted a diet on 20 healthy individuals who were asked to spend about a month in a laboratory. For the first two weeks, these individuals were randomly assigned to a diet of either ultra-processed or minimally processed foods and the for the following two weeks their diets were switched.
The participants were allowed to eat as much food as they wanted and this included meals that had about the same amount of calories, sugars, fibre, fat, and carbohydrates. When the results came out it was found that when participants were given ultra-processed foods, they happened to have consumed at least 508 calories more on an average. They also found that these participants gained 0.9 kgs when they were on the ultra-processed diet whereas when they were on a healthy diet they lost the same amount of weight.
“Although the new study was small, ‘results from this tightly controlled experiment showed a clear and consistent difference between the two diets,” study lead author Kevin Hall. The researchers then tried to figure out what was causing all of this overeating and came to the conclusion that ultra-processed food may be affecting hunger hormones in the body. They also suggested that this is why it would be best for people to start limiting their consumption of fast foods.
Some examples of ultra-processed foods are: Soft drinks, Chips, Candy, Packaged bread and buns, Instant noodles, Sweetened breakfast cereals, Infant formula, Energy bars, Flavoured yoghurt, Hot dogs, White bread, Store-bought ice cream.
What you can do to avoid consuming too many ultra-processed foods:
- Start cooking at home. Not only will it save you a lot of money but you can keep the taste in check and cook whatever you want.
- When you go grocery shopping try and pick up more fresh products instead of packaged ones. Try consuming vegetables, fruits and legumes more often.
- Check the labels when you buy products and buy the ones that have fewer harmful ingredients.
- When you eat out make sure you opt for the right choices. Opt for foods that contain more veggies and also make sure to keep the sodium levels in check.
All you need is a little bit of planning and patience and you'll be good to go. Stay tuned for more updates.
Researchers have even been looking at links between processed foods and cancer and they now believe that consuming ultra-processed foods could also lead to an early death. The researchers then conducted a diet on 20 healthy individuals who were asked to spend about a month in a laboratory. For the first two weeks, these individuals were randomly assigned to a diet of either ultra-processed or minimally processed foods and the for the following two weeks their diets were switched.
The participants were allowed to eat as much food as they wanted and this included meals that had about the same amount of calories, sugars, fibre, fat, and carbohydrates. When the results came out it was found that when participants were given ultra-processed foods, they happened to have consumed at least 508 calories more on an average. They also found that these participants gained 0.9 kgs when they were on the ultra-processed diet whereas when they were on a healthy diet they lost the same amount of weight.
“Although the new study was small, ‘results from this tightly controlled experiment showed a clear and consistent difference between the two diets,” study lead author Kevin Hall. The researchers then tried to figure out what was causing all of this overeating and came to the conclusion that ultra-processed food may be affecting hunger hormones in the body. They also suggested that this is why it would be best for people to start limiting their consumption of fast foods.
Some examples of ultra-processed foods are: Soft drinks, Chips, Candy, Packaged bread and buns, Instant noodles, Sweetened breakfast cereals, Infant formula, Energy bars, Flavoured yoghurt, Hot dogs, White bread, Store-bought ice cream.
What you can do to avoid consuming too many ultra-processed foods:
- Start cooking at home. Not only will it save you a lot of money but you can keep the taste in check and cook whatever you want.
- When you go grocery shopping try and pick up more fresh products instead of packaged ones. Try consuming vegetables, fruits and legumes more often.
- Check the labels when you buy products and buy the ones that have fewer harmful ingredients.
- When you eat out make sure you opt for the right choices. Opt for foods that contain more veggies and also make sure to keep the sodium levels in check.
All you need is a little bit of planning and patience and you'll be good to go. Stay tuned for more updates.