New York: People who consumed over nine servings of ultra-processed foods per day on average were 67 percent more likely to suffer a major cardiac event than people consuming about one serving of such foods per day, in a study being presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session.
Ultra-processed foods include many packaged and convenience foods, such as chips, crackers, frozen meals, processed meats, sugary drinks, breakfast cereals and breads.
With each additional daily serving, the risk of adverse events such as heart attacks, strokes and death from coronary heart disease or stroke increases by more than 5 percent, according to the findings. The association between ultra-processed food intake and adverse events was more pronounced among Black Americans compared with other racial groups.
“Ultra-processed foods are associated with an increased risk for heart disease, and while many of these products may seem like convenient on-the-go meal or snack options, our findings suggest they should be consumed in moderation,” said Amier Haidar, MD, a cardiology fellow at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and the study’s lead author.
The research is among the first large studies to examine ultra-processed food consumption and heart disease risk in a racially diverse population of U.S. adults. This study was published simultaneously in JACC Advances.
