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Do you like to eat a chocolate bar or a bag of chips daily? A recent study has shown that by doing so you would be adding several months to your biological age. The findings indicate that when ultra-processed foods constitute just 10% of a typical 2000-calorie diet for adults, it can accelerate the biological clock by up to 2.4 months.
Ultra-processed foods encompass a variety of items such as chips, sodas, ice cream, chocolates, pre-prepared meals, sausages, burgers, and nuggets made from chicken or fish, along with both sweet and savory energy bars and packaged snacks.
Consuming an additional 200 calories from ultra-processed foods, which is equivalent to a small chocolate bar, could accelerate the biological aging process. Biological age differs from chronological age as it reflects how well your body functions and is influenced by lifestyle choices and genetics. Chronological age is the number of years a person has lived since birth.
The cross-sectional study analyzed data from 16,055 Americans aged between 20 and 79, aiming to investigate the relationship between ultra-processed food consumption and biological aging.
For every 10% increase in energy intake from ultra-processed foods (UPFs), participants were found to be 0.21 years older biologically. Those who consumed the most ultra-processed foods were biologically 0.86 years older. This link between UPF consumption and accelerated biological aging persisted even after adjustments were made for diet quality and overall energy intake.
The results suggest that cutting back on ultra-processed foods could decelerate the biological aging process, providing additional motivation to reduce these foods in dietary strategies designed to support healthy aging.
To view the original scientific study click below:
Association between ultra-processed food intake and biological ageing in US adults: findings from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003–2010
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