Experts find 'no safe level' of processed food consumption in new study

A new research has reignited concerns about the health risks associated with processed meats, sugar-sweetened beverages, and trans fatty acids, with nutrition experts asserting there is "no safe amount" of processed meat for consumption.

The study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, highlighted an elevated risk of major diseases, including cancer, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease, from regular intake of these dietary components, CNN reported.

The study analysed data from 60 previous research efforts and explored the link between the consumption of processed meats, sugary drinks, and trans fatty acids, and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, colorectal cancer, and ischemic heart disease.

Ischemic heart disease, a condition that restricts blood supply to the heart, thereby reducing oxygen and nutrient delivery, was a key focus of the analysis.

According to Dr Demewoz Haile, lead author of the study and a research scientist at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation in Seattle,  "habitual consumption" of even small quantities of processed meat, sugary drinks, and trans fatty acids is consistently linked to an increased risk of life-threatening diseases.

For instance, consuming as little as one hot dog a day was associated with an 11% greater risk of type 2 diabetes and a 7% increased risk of colorectal cancer.

Similarly, drinking the equivalent of a 12-ounce soda daily was linked to an 8% increase in type 2 diabetes risk and a 2% increased risk of ischemic heart disease.

"This current research has shown, yet again and consistent with prior research … that to achieve health gains it is best to avoid or minimise the habitual consumption of each of processed meat, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and industrially produced trans fatty acids (TFAs)," said Dr Nita Forouhi, head of nutritional epidemiology at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. She was not involved in the research.

She emphasised that the risk escalates with increased consumption and for processed meat consumption, she cited data that showed that there is no "safe amount".

According to experts, these foods are linked to health problems for various reasons.

Sugar-sweetened beverages and processed meats, such as sausages, salami, and burgers, can contribute to inflammation, a significant factor in numerous chronic diseases.

Processed meats are often cured with nitrites, which can be converted into carcinogenic nitrosamines in the stomach, according to Dr Gunter Kuhnle, professor of nutrition and food science at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom. He was not involved in the study.

Sugary drinks contribute to rapid sugar intake, potentially leading to weight gain and impacting metabolic pathways relevant to heart disease and diabetes, he added.

He also revealed that fatty acids are known to reduce beneficial cholesterol levels while increasing harmful ones, raising the risk of plaque buildup in arteries and heart disease.