The foods ‘driving an autism, depression and dementia epidemic' revealed in bombshell study
FOODS that make up around 57 per cent of the average UK diet are fuelling autism, depression and dementia cases, scientists warn.
In a major new review, ultra-processed foods (UPFs) have been linked to rising rates of neurological disorders.
The actual culprit is believed to be microplastics, which are found in alarming levels in UPFs.
UPFs are more susceptible to microplastics than other foods due to their packaging, additives and the equipment used to process them.
Co-lead author of the new paper Dr Nicholas Fabiano, from the University of Ottawa, said: "We're seeing converging evidence that should concern us all.
" Ultra-processed foods...contain significantly higher concentrations of microplastics than whole foods.
"Recent findings show these particles can cross the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in alarming quantities."
Another author, Dr Wolfgang Marx from Deakin University's Food & Mood Center, said there is "remarkable overlap" in the way UPFs and microplastics harm mental health.
He explained: "This hypothesis is particularly compelling because we see remarkable overlap in biological mechanisms.
"Ultra-processed foods have been linked to adverse mental health through inflammation, oxidative stress, epigenetics, mitochondrial dysfunction, and disruptions to neurotransmitter systems.
"Microplastics appear to operate through remarkably similar pathways."
In the new article published in the May issue of Brain Medicine, researchers reviewed studies that focused on the relationship between ultra-processed foods, microplastics and mental health.
5 ultra-processed foods to avoid
One study, recently published in The British Medical journal, found people who consumed UPFs had a 22 per cent high risk of depression, a 48 per cent higher risk of anxiety, and a 41 per cent higher risk of poor sleep - which can negatively impact brain health.
Another study included in their review found microplastics and nanoplastics induce oxidative stress and the central nervous system, which could lead to cellular damage and raise the risk of neurological disorders.
Based on current data, the authors concluded high levels of microplastic contamination in UPFs could be why they have such a detrimental impact on health.
Scientists believe UPFs can negatively impact brain health by disrupting the gut-brain axis - communication between the gastrointestinal tract and the brain - promoting inflammation, and potentially leading to cognitive decline and mental health issues like depression and anxiety.
Alongside brain health, UPFs have been linked to a wide range of negative health outcomes.
Consuming lots of UPFs can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
A recent study found substituting 10 per cent of UPFs with minimally processed foods reduced the risk of type 2 diabetes by 18 per cent.
A study published last year found people who eat lots of UPFs may be at greater risk of dying early.
And there's been some research that indicates a correlation between UPF intake and a higher risk of overall cancer, head and neck cancer, oesophageal adenocarcinoma, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and brain cancer.
However, more research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms behind this association and the relative impact of different dimensions of processing on cancer risk.
How ultra processed is YOUR kitchen?
Ultra processed foods (UPFs) were defined by Brazilian researchers who made the NOVA classification system. It breaks foods into groups depending on how processed they are. The most natural foods are in group 1, while the most processed are in group 4.
The groups do not entirely indicate how healthy a food is. However, it does indicate how processed it is - and studies have linked UPFs to a number of diseases.
How does your kitchen compare to the following groups?
Unprocessed or minimally processed foods (group 1)
vegetables and fruits (fresh or frozen)
dried fruits with no added sugar, honey, or oil
grains and legumes (chickpeas, lentils)
meat, poultry, fish, seafood, eggs
milk without added sugar
plain yogurt with no added sugar
nuts and seeds
spices and herbs
tea, coffee, water
Processed culinary ingredients (group 2)
iodized salt
salted butter
sugar and molasses from cane or beet
honey extracted from combs
syrup from maple trees
vegetable oils crushed from olives or seeds
butter and lard from milk and pork
starches extracted from corn and other plants
vegetable oils with added anti-oxidants
vinegar with added preservatives
Processed foods (group 3)
canned vegetables, fruits, and legumes
fruits in syrup
salted or sugared nuts and seeds
salted cured or smoked meats
canned fish
artisanal breads and cheese
Ultra-processed foods (group 4)
pop and fruit drinks
sweetened yogurt
sweet or savoury packaged snacks (e.g., cookies)
candies and cake mixes
mass-produced packaged breads and buns
margarines and spreads
breakfast cereals
cereal and energy bars
energy drinks
instant soups, sauces, and noodles
poultry and fish nuggets, hot dogs
many ready-to-heat products: pre-prepared pies, pasta, and pizza dishes
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
14 minutes ago
- The Independent
New data lifts lid on extent of NHS surgical mistakes
Over 400 serious surgical mistakes, termed "never events', occurred in NHS hospitals between April 2024 and March 2025. The incidents encompassed 46 operations on the wrong body part and multiple cases where surgical instruments were left inside patients. One patient suffered permanent spinal cord damage after a surgeon mistakenly removed parts of her vertebrae instead of operating on her cervical rib. The Royal College of Surgeons has urged NHS hospitals to thoroughly investigate the increase in these incidents to prevent their recurrence. The NHS said that these incidents are rare but are investigated for learning and improvement.
Daily Mail
18 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
When I started balding in my teens I was so insecure. Then I discovered the hair-loss miracle men whisper about and it changed my life. No, it's NOT a transplant - you'll never guess my secret
Young men affected by hair loss are increasingly turning to a baldness solution that avoids both drugs and costly transplant surgery. Salons across the UK are offering so-called 'hair systems' – custom-made hairpieces bonded to the scalp and styled to blend seamlessly with existing hair.
Daily Mail
30 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Held hostage by the NHS: Father paralysed from the neck down after stair fall claims red tape is stopping him coming home
A father left paralysed from the neck down after a tragic accident says he's being stopped from coming home to his family by red tape. Steve Todd, 45, was paralysed after falling down the stairs at his home in Redruth, Cornwall during a diabetes induced dizzy spell. The former holiday park maintenance manager has been in a specialist facility in Sailsbury ever since the episode back in December 2023. He expected to be able to leave to live in his specially adapted bungalow just outside Redruth in mid-February of this year after selling his family home. But Mr Todd says he's not able to because NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care System won't provide for his care needs unless he moves into a care home to be assessed. He says medical professionals at the specialist treatment centre he is in now have told him he should not go to a care home because he will never get out. The father said his life has been turned upside down since his injury. 'When they say life changing injury this is the very definition of it,' he said. 'My life has been turned upside down. I spent all of last year doing my very best to get better to be discharged mid-February this year. 'We've spent an absolute fortune getting my house ready for that.' Mr Todd added: 'I have been told by everyone in the hospital: health care professionals, charity advocates don't go into a home, you won't get out of there. 'The "council" seems to want me to go into an old folk's home. My massive worry is if I do that it's going to be cheaper and easier to keep me there and basically, I'm never going to get home, and I'll be living with dementia patients.' Mr Todd, who is diabetic, said the accident happened when he had a episode of low blood sugar. He went to go downstairs to get some Jelly Babies, missed his footing and tumbled, snapping his neck. Prior to that he was a facilities manager at a holiday park which meant he was a very active person, on his feet for most of the day. He now has a little movement and can only wiggle his fingers. He says there is some sensation and he can feel the injury, but it would be a miracle if he ever recovered. The father claims the NHS body told him it can't assess his care despite him being in the hospital for 18 months. His family say Mr Todd has been offered several interim care options, including two in community hospital settings. However, they say none of these have had either the facilities or staff trained to care for someone with his needs. The last option was offered in March, but this did not have the facilities to support the level of care needed, but due to a failed discharge at their end, it was withdrawn before they could visit the facility. He said any grants he was entitled to would have taken up to 18 months to come through. 'That sort of time scheme is unbearable,' he said. 'We've absolutely gutted ourselves, spent every penny we had adapting the house making it ready for me to come home and then we've got to that date and simply nothing happens. 'I can't see it's anything other than cost, it's not going to be cheap for me to live at home. I'm going to need substantial care.' He said at one point he was told he could go home with four one-hour visits from a carer but he needed 24-hour care. 'It breaks my heart to say that,' he said. His wife works full time and they have a five-year-old son, which he says means she doesn't have the time and energy to look after him as well. 'The other option is for her to quit her job but that puts the whole family on benefits,' he said. 'We don't want to be on benefits, nobody does. 'I genuinely don't know how my wife has coped. She has a full-time job. We have got a five-year-old. 'She managed to sell our old house she packed everything up, bought a new house, property management of all the building work that needed doing. I just think somewhere along the line it is going to take its toll,' he said. 'Our son has amazed all of us. He's been so resilient and adjusted so well.' Mr Todd said the whole ordeal had left his his mental health in 'absolute tatters'. 'Every day is a struggle,' he said. 'I wake up every day thinking surely today something is going to move today then I go to bed at night and nothing has.' His son Bobby is going to be six at the end of this month and he has missed a quarter of his life and big events, including two birthdays, two of his wife's birthdays and two Christmases. 'I just feel we've lost so much as a family,' he said. 'This accident has taken so much from us already. It just feels like 'What more do we need to do just to have a reasonable family life?' I feel like I'm under house arrest, genuinely.' Once Mr Todd leaves Salisbury, he will lose his power chair which is the property of the hospital. The family says another chair he has been promised is not ready yet. He has been left 'horrified' by his treatment and claims there are two or three other patients from Cornwall in the rehab he is in having similar experiences. 'There are people in other places who get the help they need but it seems to be a postcode lottery for us,' he said. 'This is something you never imagine goes on. If people get hurt and injure themselves, you think they get taken care of.' A spokesperson for NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care System said: 'We sincerely apologise for the impact this is having on Mr Todd and his family. 'It is vital that we provide the most suitable care for Mr Todd and we are working with Salisbury District Hospital to make sure that happens as quickly as possible.'
