Results of this survey show that American consumers are fairly ambivalent when it comes to processing.
The majority of Americans buy processed foods and beverages sometimes or often.
Half of Americans have not changed the amount of processed foods theyu2019ve purchased over the past three months.
Many say that they are more likely to buy a processed food or beverage if it is high in protein, enriched or fortified with vitamins and minerals and has natural flavors/colors.
Consumers are fairly split on their level of concern about processing for different types of foods/beverages.
When looking at purchase drivers, taste, price and healthfulness greatly outrank whether a food or beverage is processed.
Bacon could be back on the menu of health-conscious diners thanks to an unlikely salvation: Japanese knotweed.
The fast-growing plant, feared by homeowners for its ability to invade gardens and buildings, contains a chemical which could take the place of the nitrite preservative in cured meats such as bacon and sausages.
Highly processed foods accounted for two-thirds of the calories consumed by youth in the U.S. in 2018.
The findings highlight the need to reduce consumption of such foods, which are associated with obesity, diabetes, and other health problems.
When people ate a diet full of ultra-processed foods, they consumed more calories and gained more weight than when they ate a minimally processed diet.
The results suggest the importance of identifying and eating healthy foods.
A recent study, u201cUltra-Processed Foods and Incident Cardiovascular Disease in the Framingham Offspring Studyu201d adds more weight to the benefits of curbing intake of processed and ultra-processed foods.u00a0
Processed foods are a key hallmark of the Western diet. There is now a growing body of evidence that processed foods are detrimental to human health. The availability and consumption of processed, thermally treated food has increased substantially over the past decades, in line with the obesity and diabetes pandemic. Obesity and diabetes associate with microvascular complications, particularly chronic kidney disease (CKD). CKD affects almost 14% of the general population and is itself a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality.
Alarmingly, over half of the food Americans currently consume are "ultra-processed" -- and these poor nutritional choices are making them sick. Whatu2019s more, is that one may not even realize that what you are eating has been ultra-processed such as u201cprotein bars breakfast cereals, and most industrially produced breads.u201d
Scientists from the University's Nutritional Epidemiology Group used data from 500,000 people, discovering that consuming a 25g serving of processed meat a day, the equivalent to one rasher of bacon, is associated with a 44% increased risk of developing the disease.
But their findings also show eating some unprocessed red meat, such as beef, pork, or veal, could be protective, as people who consumed 50g a day were 19% less likely to develop dementia.u202f
Do you remember the 100 Days of Real Food Challenge? They may have been on to something, and it appears as if a similar movement to remove unhealthy processed foods from your diet may be in the works, although it is not yet official, merely a rumor, albeit a good one.u00a0
Unfortunately most Americans get more than 50% of their daily calories from ultra processed foods, measures of heart health decreases as ultra processed food consumption continues to rise, according to preliminary research to be presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2019; and along with it so does the rate of obesity follow the increase.
