roanoke, virginia – Eating a balanced diet is important, but sometimes the convenience of grabbing packaged meals and snacks on the go can outweigh it. But new research reveals the dangers of ultra-processed foods.
a recent research A paper published last week examined 30 years of data and found that people who ate ultra-processed foods were 4% more likely to die from any cause.
What’s worse is that ultra-processed foods now make up 57% of American adult diets and 67% of American children’s diets.
Tora Murphy was born and raised in Roanoke. She knows the power of food well, as she runs her own catering company, Leo’s Catering & Co. She said Ms. Murphy is concerned about her health.
“I’m being careful about what I eat. Instead of picking out a bag of chips, I’m choosing healthier options like fruits and vegetables. Instead of going to Wendy’s for strawberry lemonade because it’s delicious. , and drinking water,” Murphy said.
She understands that between busy schedules, work, and raising children, it can be difficult and expensive for families to make healthy choices.
“It can get really expensive, you know? And you rely on convenience,” Murphy said. “How much can my family afford and how will we all feed?”
It’s easy to get ready-to-eat or hot foods at the store, but how bad are these foods for you?
Ultra-processed foods are basically anything you can’t find in your home kitchen. Ultra-processed foods contain additives such as flavor enhancers, colorants, and thickeners that make them shelf-stable and easier to prepare.
The study found that ultra-processed meat, poultry, or seafood consistently showed “a strong association with mortality.” Beverages with added sugar or artificial sweeteners, dairy-based desserts, and ultra-processed breakfast foods were also associated with increased all-cause mortality.
Dr Christopher Pearce, interim chairman of Carilion Children’s, said ultra-processed foods were also linked to obesity, diabetes and other diseases.
“If you can’t pronounce an ingredient, it’s probably in the ultra-processed realm or something that’s not good for you,” Pearce says.
It’s not just the time and money it takes to prepare meals that gets in the way of healthy eating.
“We have a food desert theme,” Pierce said. “You may not be able to go to the grocery store to buy fresh fruits and vegetables.”
The Roanoke Valley has the resources to address that issue. The area designated as a food desert has three community gardens where people can rent land and grow their own vegetables.
One tip when planning meals is to think about how quickly the food will be eaten, Pierce says.
“Diet has a profound impact,” Pearce says. “It’s important to use a little common sense.”
Murphy said she’s starting small.
“Know your family history. Some things may be preventable,” Murphy said.
“I want to live a long life,” she added. “Take small steps and figure it out.”
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