11/20/2025
Risks of processed food include increased risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, and premature death. This is often because they are high in added sugar, salt, unhealthy fats, and calories, while being low in fiber and essential nutrients, which can also negatively impact gut health.
Specific health risks
Heart health: High intake of ultra-processed foods is linked to a greater risk of high blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular disease.
Metabolic health: It is associated with an increased risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and insulin resistance.
Cancer: Studies show a link between consumption of ultra-processed foods and a higher risk of certain cancers.
Mental health: There is an association between processed food consumption and poor mental health, including anxiety and depression.
Mortality: Higher consumption of ultra-processed foods is linked to an increased risk of premature death.
Why processed foods pose these risks
High in unhealthy ingredients: Processed foods are often loaded with added sugar, salt, and saturated and trans fats, which contribute to chronic diseases.
Low in essential nutrients: They tend to lack fiber, vitamins, and minerals that are crucial for a healthy diet.
High in calories: It can be easy to overconsume calorie-dense processed foods, leading to weight gain.
Impact on gut health: They can negatively alter the balance of beneficial bacteria in the gut microbiome, leading to inflammation and other issues.
Artificial ingredients: They may contain numerous artificial ingredients, some of which have unknown long-term health effects.