Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are industrially altered products – such as soft drinks, sweet and savory packaged snacks, prepared pizzas, and processed meats. Hundreds of new ingredients, previously unknown to the human body, now make up nearly 60% of the average adult’s diet and almost 70% of children’s diets in the United States. “These products reduceContinue reading “High intake of ultra-processed foods linked to systemic inflammation: New research”
Category Archives: Food & Nutrition Policy
Ultra-processed food increases risk of early death, international study finds
In a new study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine (Nilson et al., 2025), researchers reported “a linear dose-response association between the ultra-processed food consumption and all-cause mortality” when they examined official surveys previously undertaken in the United Kingdom (UK) and US, as well as Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Chile and Mexico. (NilsonContinue reading “Ultra-processed food increases risk of early death, international study finds”
New Report: Grains of Truth 2024
A newly published report titled: “Grains of Truth 2024: Taste Price Optimism & Obstacles: Habit Convenience Health” reveals a mixed picture of progress and challenges in the global food system. The report highlights the growing interest in plant-based diets, with 68 percent of people worldwide expressing a desire to eat more plant-based foods. However, onlyContinue reading “New Report: Grains of Truth 2024”
EAT-Lancet Planetary Health Diet lowers risk of premature death and environmental impact: New research
Persons who “eat a healthy, sustainable diet may substantially lower their risk of premature death in addition to their environmental impact, according to a new study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. It is the first large study to directly evaluate the impacts of adherence to recommendations in the landmark 2019 EAT-Lancet report.”Continue reading “EAT-Lancet Planetary Health Diet lowers risk of premature death and environmental impact: New research”
Adding only a few ultraprocessed foods to a healthy diet raised risk of cognitive decline and stroke, study says
Eating more ultraprocessed foods is linked to a higher risk of cognitive decline and stroke, even if a person is trying to adhere to a Mediterranean diet, the DASH diet or the MIND diet, a new study published in the journal Neurology has reported. All three diets are plant-based, focused on consuming more fruits andContinue reading “Adding only a few ultraprocessed foods to a healthy diet raised risk of cognitive decline and stroke, study says”
Ultra-processed foods linked to early death, obesity, diabetes, and mental disorders: Largest study to date finds
Eating ultra-processed foods raises the risk of developing or dying from dozens of adverse health conditions, according to a new “umbrella review” of 45 meta-analyses. The authors found consistent evidence linking higher intakes of ultra-processed foods with over 70% of the 45 different health outcomes assessed. The umbrella review, a high-level evidence summary, included 45 distinct pooledContinue reading “Ultra-processed foods linked to early death, obesity, diabetes, and mental disorders: Largest study to date finds”
World Obesity Atlas 2024: No area of the world is unaffected by the consequences of obesity
March 4, 2024 is World Obesity Day. This year’s Obesity Atlas, published by the World Obesity Federation, reveals that “No area of the world is unaffected by the consequences of Obesity,” and that: “Rising rates of obesity rates across the world reveal massive gaps in healthcare and nutrition, with poorest populations most adversely affected.” TheContinue reading “World Obesity Atlas 2024: No area of the world is unaffected by the consequences of obesity”
Food and sustainability: Is it a matter of choice?: A review
A recent review published in the journal Sustainability focuses on results of life cycle analysis (LCA) articles that summarize the current state of food choices on our environment. This narrative review “aims to demonstrate that healthy plant-based choices in our diet are linked to choices beneficial to our environment.” The authors also highlight the opportunitiesContinue reading “Food and sustainability: Is it a matter of choice?: A review”
Ultra-processed foods linked to increased cancer risk, diabetes, and heart disease
New research published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe found that the higher the consumption of ultra-processed foods, the higher the risk of suffering from a combination of chronic diseases including cancer, diabetes and heart disease. According to the World Cancer Research Fund International, “Ultra-processed foods are convenient (long-shelf life, ready-to-eat), industrially manufactured foodsContinue reading “Ultra-processed foods linked to increased cancer risk, diabetes, and heart disease”
Having big meat-eaters reduce their meat consumption is the equivalent of taking 8 million cars off the road: Study
A recent study published in the journal Nature Food found that big meat-eaters in the United Kingdom (UK) reducing their meat consumption would be the equivalent of taking 8 million cars off the road. Prof Scarborough, who is part of the Livestock Environment And People (LEAP) project surveyed 55,000 people who were divided into bigContinue reading “Having big meat-eaters reduce their meat consumption is the equivalent of taking 8 million cars off the road: Study”
Sustainable RDN 