Your Cart is Empty
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
Brain aging encompasses the gradual biological and functional shifts in the brain as we age, changes that may or may not affect cognitive performance. A recent study explored whether creativity offers more than just enjoyment or emotional benefits, investigating if it provides tangible biological advantages for brain health.
Could your meal timing weaken your bones? A recent study suggests that habits like skipping breakfast or eating late-night dinners may heighten the risk of developing osteoporosis. This pioneering research is the first to highlight a clear link between such eating patterns and an increased chance of bone fractures due to osteoporosis.
While melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma are generally slow-growing and rare, a new study finds that people with tattoos face a greater risk of developing melanoma. While tattoos raised melanoma risk, they did not increase the odds of squamous cell carcinoma, another sun-driven skin cancer that, unlike the much more lethal melanoma, arises from different skin cells.