As more people choose plant-based diets for health, environmental and ethical reasons, new evidence suggests that switching to a vegetarian diet may have the undesirable side effect of eating more ultra-processed foods. revealed in research.
In the new study, scientists looked at the consumption of ultra-processed and “minimally processed foods” among around 200,000 people who took part in the UK Biobank project.
They found that vegetarians ate more ultra-processed foods (by about 1.3 percentage points) than regular red meat eaters. Vegans also ate slightly more ultra-processed foods than regular red meat eaters, but the difference was not significant (1.2 percentage points).
The study concludes: [ultra-processed food] A vegetarian diet reduces intake, and a diet containing moderate amounts of meat and fish reduces intake. ”
“It is important that policies that promote the urgently needed transition to more sustainable dietary patterns also facilitate the rebalancing of diets towards minimally processed foods,” the report said. added.
Here’s the problem. Many people in developed countries who follow a plant-based diet don’t just eat a balanced variety of fresh vegetables and fruits. When trying to avoid meat, well-meaning consumers turn to meat substitutes, pre-cooked instant meals, and other products that often contain more calories, saturated fat, salt, sugar, and additives of all kinds. Sometimes we choose “convenience foods.”
It is becoming clear that eating this type of food can have negative health effects. a previous research We found that eating large amounts of ultra-processed plant-based foods may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to less processed plant-based foods.
However, keep in mind that this is a complex discussion.
It’s quite difficult to define what constitutes an “ultra-processed food.” Although there is a widely used classification system called NOVA that classifies foods based on how they are made, the boundaries of what is considered “ultra-processed” remain subjective and differ among experts. It may be under discussion.
According to NOVA’s classification, ultra-processed foods are “substances extracted from food (oils, fats, sugars, starches, proteins), derived from food components (hydrogenated fats and modified starches), or chemically synthesized. “An industrial compound made entirely or largely from a substance.” Food substrates or other organic sources (flavor enhancers, colorants, and some food additives used to make products highly palatable) are used in the laboratory. ”
In other words, it often includes foods such as frozen pizza, instant noodles, prepackaged hamburgers, hot dogs, candy bars, sweet breakfast cereals, and sugary sodas. These types of foods tend to go through multiple layers of processing and collect other additives to keep them fresh, enhance flavor, or make them more appealing in appearance.
This isn’t to say that a plant-based diet is inherently unhealthy. on the contrary, the study suggests that eating a well-planned vegan diet may reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and certain types of cancer.
Similarly, wide range of research Studies show a clear link between high red meat intake and increased risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and even premature death. Then again, some research They suggest that the problem with red meat consumption is more strongly associated with eating highly processed rather than high-quality unprocessed meat.
The key message is that ultra-processed foods are generally unlikely to be beneficial to health, even if the definition is somewhat vague. This is true whether the processed food is plant-based or meat-based. If you’re choosing a plant-based diet, it’s important to keep in mind that it’s easy to overindulge in processed foods instead of focusing on fresh, whole foods that are generally healthier.
New research published in journals e-clinical medicine.
The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
