Latest news with #ultraprocessedfoods
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Millions of Americans with certain personality trait need extra 'protection' from ultra-processed foods... are YOU one of them?
Some children are hardwired to overeat appealing and artificial ultra-processed foods linked to diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and depression. They are born with what scientists call a strong food reward drive, an intense biological pull toward eating that makes them feel hungrier, eat faster, and struggle to feel full. Their brains are wired to seek out food more aggressively. While children with this drive can regulate their eating with whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins, ultra-processed foods, which are packed with refined sugars, industrial fats, and artificial additives, can overwhelm their brain's natural satiety signals. These foods are designed to bypass fullness cues. Sugary or salty snacks trigger a rush of dopamine in the brain far more robust than apples or grilled chicken. This dopamine rush causes the brain to seek out those same good feelings over and over again, often in the form of reaching for junk foods over whole produce and lean protein. Having a strong food reward drive causes a person to crave food constantly, even when they're not hungry, and struggle to stop eating when they're full. Scientists recommend avoiding ultra-processed foods in the grocery store altogether and reserving them for special occasions. Keeping them in the house while trying to moderate a child's eating habits rarely works, and not keeping them in the home is typically more successful, they said. It is estimated that Americans obtain roughly 70 percent of their daily calories from ultra-processed foods and a growing body of research has linked a diet full of them increases a person's risk of chronic diseases including diabetes and cancer. People who score highest on the Reward-based Eating Drive (RED) scale, a self-reported test on lack of satiety and a struggle to stop eating, are more likely to have a high BMI, obesity, and weight fluctuations. Ultra-palatable foods activate the brain's opioid and dopamine systems. The dopamine rush keeps people coming back for more, while the opioid effect dulls feelings of fullness, stimulates endorphins, and increases cravings. Research has shown that children with a strong food reward drive can regulate how much whole produce and lean protein they eat, but struggle doing the same with ultra-processed foods. Research has suggested that some people are genetically predisposed to having fewer dopamine receptors, requring more junk food to attain the same flood of dopamine that hooks people. Genetics don't solely influence eating behavior, though. If a child is frequently rewarded with junk food or it's constantly available, they are more likely to develop dopamine-driven habits. But Parents have a significant influence on their children's eating habits. One study found that around 21 percent of parents used food as a reward, which is associated with emotional overeating in their children. Kerri Boutelle, a professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at the University of California, San Diego's School of Medicine, works with children struggling with their weight and overeating. Her years of research have shown that children, even siblings, show different responses to ultra-processed foods. 'One child would eat half of the ice cream cone and put it down,' she told NPR. They have a low food reward drive, meaning that ultra-processed foods do not significantly alter their behavior. 'They just eat to get full, and then they move on,' Boutelle said. The other child, who has a high food reward drive, would gobble up their ice cream cone and finish the other child's too. 'They want to eat all the time, and it doesn't matter if they're full,' Boutelle added. 'Those kids are going to gain weight in today's environment. I always tell parents, the environment today tricks kids into overeating.' Reward-based eating is similar to but different from food addiction, which causes obsessive thoughts about food, a loss of control when eating, and continued overeating despite existing health problems, such as obesity or diabetes. Around 20 percent of American children, more than 14 million, are obese. Roughly 300,000 of them have type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Boutelle recommends that parents avoid buying ultra-processed foods altogether, but if they do, limit their purchases to three items, as having a wide variety can increase the risk of overeating. 'What you can do as a parent is make your home as safe as it can be for your children,' she said.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
RFK Jr. is waging a war against ultra-processed foods. What does it mean for your diet?
Ultra-processed foods are undergoing increased scrutiny as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and his supporters blame these often tasty snacks for contributing to chronic diseases in the U.S. But what is ultra-processed food? There still isn't a universal definition. While many ice creams, chips and sodas are considered ultra-processed, there's also a wide array of other foods that can be included in a healthy diet that fall into the same category, such as tofu, some canned fruits and vegetables, protein bars, cereals and nut milks. 'These are all quite processed and some of them can be classified as ultra-processed foods but because of their nutrient profiles, they might be better for us and not associated with the worst health outcomes,' said Michele Polacsek, professor of public health at the University of New England and an expert on promoting healthy food choices. Does that mean these foods will be targeted, too? Probably not, said Marion Nestle, a nutrition expert and emeritus professor at New York University. 'That would be impossible because of the way that Americans eat,' she said, as research shows over 70% of American calories come from ultra-processed foods. Ultra-processed foods, or UPFs, are foods that have been made by food companies using manufactured ingredients, rather than actual foods. If you've ever taken a look at some food labels, you may not recognize many of the ingredients listed. These are likely ultra-processed ingredients that are used to make food "taste better, look better and last longer on the shelf," Nestle said. Research has shown UPFs replace healthier foods and encourage people to eat more calories, Nestle said. Ultra-processed foods have been linked to about 30 health conditions, including obesity, diabetes, heart disease, certain cancers and mental health disorders, according to a 2024 study published in the British Medical Journal. In May, Kennedy and his 'Make America Healthy Again' commission targeted ultra-processed foods in a 69-page report. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the administration is seeking information and data to help develop an official definition for ultra-processed foods, according to a July 23 statement. While it's a good first step, Polacsek said not all UPFs are the same and there isn't enough data to determine which ingredients or processes in packaged foods lead to negative health outcomes. 'We don't have all the evidence we need,' she said. 'We need a lot more research on this.' It would be a mistake to create policy based on the data available on ultra-processed foods, Polacsek said. But if the administration makes policy decisions based on a universal definition, she hopes agencies will also allocate funding to research how it's impacting public health and the food industry. Is Chick-fil-A healthy? Fast-food chain named one of the least nutritious in America In the meantime, Nestle recommends minimizing the amount of ultra-processed foods you eat but also reminds consumers that some contain nutrients that can be incorporated into a healthy diet. In a 2023 study, researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture led a study that showed how it was possible to build a healthy diet with 91% of the calories coming from ultra-processed foods. However, study authors noted the diet was particularly high in sodium and didn't contain enough whole grains. 'The basic principle of healthy eating is variety,' Nestle said. 'If you eat a lot of different kinds of food, and most of them are minimally processed, you're doing fine.' 'Food is one of life's greatest pleasures, it's really important to enjoy what you eat.' Adrianna Rodriguez can be reached at adrodriguez@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: RFK Jr. and ultra-processed foods: What about protein bars?
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
RFK Jr. is waging a war against ultra-processed foods. Will almond milk be canceled?
Ultra-processed foods are undergoing increased scrutiny as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and his supporters blame these often tasty snacks for contributing to chronic diseases in the U.S. But what is ultra-processed food? There still isn't a universal definition. While many ice creams, chips and sodas are considered ultra-processed, there's also a wide array of other foods that can be included in a healthy diet that fall into the same category, such as tofu, some canned fruits and vegetables, protein bars, cereals and nut milks. 'These are all quite processed and some of them can be classified as ultra-processed foods but because of their nutrient profiles, they might be better for us and not associated with the worst health outcomes,' said Michele Polacsek, professor of public health at the University of New England and an expert on promoting healthy food choices. Does that mean these foods will be targeted, too? Probably not, said Marion Nestle, a nutrition expert and emeritus professor at New York University. 'That would be impossible because of the way that Americans eat,' she said, as research shows over 70% of American calories come from ultra-processed foods. Ultra-processed foods, or UPFs, are foods that have been made by food companies using manufactured ingredients, rather than actual foods. If you've ever taken a look at some food labels, you may not recognize many of the ingredients listed. These are likely ultra-processed ingredients that are used to make food "taste better, look better and last longer on the shelf," Nestle said. Research has shown UPFs replace healthier foods and encourage people to eat more calories, Nestle said. Ultra-processed foods have been linked to about 30 health conditions, including obesity, diabetes, heart disease, certain cancers and mental health disorders, according to a 2024 study published in the British Medical Journal. In May, Kennedy and his 'Make America Healthy Again' commission targeted ultra-processed foods in a 69-page report. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the administration is seeking information and data to help develop an official definition for ultra-processed foods, according to a July 23 statement. While it's a good first step, Polacsek said not all UPFs are the same and there isn't enough data to determine which ingredients or processes in packaged foods lead to negative health outcomes. 'We don't have all the evidence we need,' she said. 'We need a lot more research on this.' It would be a mistake to create policy based on the data available on ultra-processed foods, Polacsek said. But if the administration makes policy decisions based on a universal definition, she hopes agencies will also allocate funding to research how it's impacting public health and the food industry. Is Chick-fil-A healthy? Fast-food chain named one of the least nutritious in America In the meantime, Nestle recommends minimizing the amount of ultra-processed foods you eat but also reminds consumers that some contain nutrients that can be incorporated into a healthy diet. In a 2023 study, researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture led a study that showed how it was possible to build a healthy diet with 91% of the calories coming from ultra-processed foods. However, study authors noted the diet was particularly high in sodium and didn't contain enough whole grains. 'The basic principle of healthy eating is variety,' Nestle said. 'If you eat a lot of different kinds of food, and most of them are minimally processed, you're doing fine.' 'Food is one of life's greatest pleasures, it's really important to enjoy what you eat.' Adrianna Rodriguez can be reached at adrodriguez@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: RFK Jr. and ultra-processed foods: What about protein bars?
Medscape
6 days ago
- Health
- Medscape
Children's Breakfast Cereal Trending Downward Nutritionally
Consumption of ultraprocessed foods — ie, foods fortified with preservatives, additives, salt, sugar, and added fats — is a global problem, especially in the US. In fact, these foods represent more than half of the average daily energy intake. Contributing to this alarming trend are ready-to-eat breakfast cereals for children, which in the past decade have emphasized ingredients that favor palatability — significantly more sugar, fats, and sodium — vs health (eg, fiber or protein). 'One of the biggest takeaways from our study is that newly launched cereals marketed to children in the US have trended in the wrong direction nutritionally,' Qingxiao Li, PhD, study coauthor and assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, told Medscape Medical News . 'Despite growing attention to child nutrition, the lack of nutritional improvement in this prominent food category suggests that broader dietary challenges persist,' she said. An Unhealthy Start The cross-sectional analysis of product attributes (nutritional content, ingredients, packaging, and target audience) of food and beverage product launches highlighted that between 2010 and 2023, new children's cereals contained a 33.6% increase in total fat (1.13-1.51 g), a 32.1% increase in sodium (156.0-206.1 mg) and a 10.9% increase in sugar (10.28-11.40 g) per serving. Though protein content fluctuated in the earlier years, it declined rapidly (a mean of 1.97 g between 2010 and 2020 to 1.69 g in 2023). A similar trend was seen in fiber content, which by 2023, had dropped to 2.94 g from 3.82 g in the prior 2 years. 'These are standardized changes, so they account for serving size differences,' explained Li. 'It's concerning because it suggests that even the newest options in the cereal aisle, ones you'd hope might reflect progress, are moving away from healthier norms.' Paradoxically, skipping breakfast has been linked to childhood overweight and obesity, as well as cardiometabolic risk. However, the study findings underscored an alarming trend, said Suzanne Cuda, MD, a pediatric and adolescent obesity specialist, Obesity Medicine Association spokesperson, and medical director for Alamo City Healthy Kids & Families in San Antonio. 'If you look at the paper, one serving of breakfast cereal provides 45% of the recommended carbohydrate intake for the day,' she said. 'But most school-aged children are eating way more than that — two to three servings — over 100% of the recommended daily intake. And it's not a nutritious form of carbohydrates.' Cuda explained that children with obesity have insulin resistance due to excessive intake of carbohydrates. 'If they're not burning it all off (and the obesity epidemic is largely due to the fact that most kids are not), over time they become chronically insulin resistant, which leads to dysregulation of glycemia, prediabetes, and ultimately diabetes,' she said. Convenience Over Content As consumers increasingly demand healthier cereals with greater fiber and protein content, there is some indication that the tide is turning. Still, convenience and budget are both top priorities for many Americans. And given the rising costs of groceries, some parents make food purchases that are not always the healthiest. Additionally, about 53.6 million Americans (17.4% of the population) live in low-income, low-access areas that are 0.5-10 miles away from the nearest supermarket, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). 'I think about the overabundance of unhealthy foods, how heavily marketed they are, how available they are almost everywhere, including in different school food environments with competitive food sales,' said Maya Vadiveloo, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Nutrition at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, Rhode Island. 'A lot of kids are having soda and chips with breakfast, and some cereals have moved in the unhealthy direction because they are competing,' said Vadiveloo, who is also chair of the American Heart Association (AHA) Nutrition Committee. 'The AHA has been championing the need to improve the diet because of the already alarming health trajectories.' Amy Reed, a registered dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, expressed a similar sentiment. 'Depending on the nutritional composition of children's diets, the immediate concern is that they are not getting good nutrition at formidable [formative] periods of their life when they are growing,' Reed said. 'We focus a lot on ages 0-2, but there's a lot of growth that happens after that.' This is especially true of calcium and vitamin D, reinforcing the value of cow's milk, fortified soy milk, or pea protein milk (nut milks are less equivalent). 'A lot of families don't understand that it's important to have a source of calcium and vitamin D throughout childhood and adolescence, and even young adulthood, because you're building bone mineral density (BMD) up until the mid-to-late 20s,' Cuda said. 'You only get one chance; you can't try to recover BMD later in life.' Children's Nutrition at a Crossroads Despite time constraints, pediatricians and family doctors often do as much as they can to advise families on healthy food swaps; organizations like the AHA, the Obesity Medicine Association, and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics also offer a myriad of nutritional resources on their websites. The recently passed federal budget bill includes $186 billion in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, according to the Urban Institute. The program provides food assistance to more than 40 million people, including children, seniors, and those with disabilities. 'We know from other examples in public health that policy is an important piece in regulation to creating an environment that promotes health,' said Erin Hennessey, PhD, dean for Research Strategy and associate professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University in Boston. 'By removing long-standing beneficial programs or making changes that limit their ability to provide healthy foods as well as access, we are not going to make our children healthy again; we're actually going to make things worse for them,' said Hennessey, who is also director of the ChildObesity180 program at Tufts University. Recent updates to USDA's School Nutrition Standards track closely with goals of removing highly processed foods and reducing salt, sugar, and fats to counter the trends identified in the breakfast cereal study. Such changes could also help address the challenges posed by the breadth of food deserts in this country. 'I want to stress that this is not about individual choice; rather, it's the system that we're embedded in that is shaping the choices we are and are not able to make,' Hennessey said. 'Parents want what's best for their children, and initiatives like SNAP and School Breakfast [Program] and National School Lunch Program shape children's access to healthy foods and contribute a significant portion of their daily calories.' Findings from the cereal nutrition study served to reinforce that certain foods are cheaper, convenient, and aggressively marketed to kids. 'We need policies that prioritize children's health over all other things,' Hennessey said. The study was funded by grants from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the USDA. Li, Cuda, Vadiveloo, Reed, and Hennessey reported having no relevant financial relationships.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Ultra-Processed Foods Linked To Overeating And Inflammation
Research continues to emerge showing the adverse health effects of consuming ultra-processed foods. While the exact definition can vary, ultra-processed foods, or UPFs, are typically foods that are calorically dense, higher in refined sugar, fat, and salt, low in fiber and other nutrients, and of course, highly processed. One problem with UPFs is that they tend to make people overeat. The high salt, fat, and carb combination can make them particularly easy to overconsume. Coupled with typically lower protein levels, these foods often fail to provide the same level of satiety as a similar number of calories from whole foods might offer. 'Experimental evidence demonstrates that the soft texture, high energy density and hyperpalatable nutrient combinations of UPF facilitate excessive energy intakes by affecting ingestive behaviours, satiety signalling and food reward systems,' read a July 14 study in Nature. Another study published in May in the Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism found a strong link between the consumption of ultra-processed foods and the presence of C-reactive protein (CRP). CPR is produced by the liver in response to inflammation and is associated with an increased risk of heart disease. The researchers also found that consuming UPFs drove a higher white blood cell count. 'These two biomarkers indicate that these foods are causing an inflammatory response in our bodies. In a sense, this suggests that our bodies are seeing these as non-foods, as some kind of other element,' said Anthea Christoforou, an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology at McMaster University and senior author of the paper. In short, UPFs may be harmful for a multitude of reasons: they cause us to overeat, trigger inflammation, and lack sufficient protein and nutritious vitamins and minerals. To make matters worse, these types of foods are heavily marketed and convenient. Children are particularly susceptible to nutrient-scarce, high-sugar items, such as cereal, prominently featured in grocery store aisles. The good news? Trials have shown that dropping even one daily serving of UPFs from your diet can help cut inflammatory markers. Solve the daily Crossword
