New Delhi: Processed foods occupy an uncomfortably important place in the daily diet of all. From bread to yogurt to butter and even milk, fruits, and vegetables, everything we eat these days is processed to some extent. And talk of working professionals and students who are always on the run, these foods bring about some convenience, at the cost of health though. While processed meats and sugary drinks take most of the blame, there still are other seemingly healthy foods that can do a great deal of damage to health, and even cause a heart attack or a stroke – these foods are bread and yogurt.
How do processed foods affect heart disease risk?
While bread is still often seen as an unhealthy choice, yogurt is rarely seen in the bad light. Yogurt is conventionally a source of probiotics and calcium. It is good for digestion and also for skin and hair health. However, researchers found soft drinks and processed meats, along with sweetened yogurt should be discouraged because of their association with weight gain, obesity, diabetes, and other chronic and acute health problems in the long run.
For this, researchers gathered 20700 nurses and healthy professionals and had them fill up questionnaires regarding health and diet every 2-4 years. Foods were divided into unprocessed, processed, and ultra-processed categories. The last group included foods high in fats, sugar, calories, and salt while being low in fibre and proteins. These included:
Packaged desserts and snacks
Bread
Cereal
Condiments
Sugary drinks
Yogurt
Dairy-based desserts
Processed red meat
Hard liquor
Artificially-sweetened drinks
Alcoholic drinks
These ultra-processed foods were associated with heart disease risk. While deli meats and sugary drinks took most of the blame, foods like bread and yogurt were no less bad. People with high bread and cereal intake were most prone to severe health problems.
While bread is still often seen as an unhealthy choice, yogurt is rarely seen in the bad light. Yogurt is conventionally a source of probiotics and calcium. It is good for digestion and also for skin and hair health. Health News Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare
