Ultra-processed foods can be a convenient option for busy people. But something else comes with them: a potentially higher risk of inflammatory bowel disease.
That’s what a team of international researchers found recently after they analyzed the dietary information from more than 115,000 people worldwide. As their daily consumption of highly processed foods grew, the risk of inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, increased substantially.
IBD is a chronic inflammation of the digestive tract that can include intestinal ulcers or Crohn’s disease. Participants were enrolled in the study for 13 years and assessed at least every three years.
Those who ate five or more servings of ultra-processed food a day had an 82% higher risk of developing IBD than people who consumed less than one serving. For those who ate one to four servings, the risk jumped 67%.
Ultra-processed foods typically contain large amounts of added sugar, salt and fat while lacking fiber and vitamins. They typically include ready-made meals, processed meat, sugary cereals and salty snacks.
In comparison, the researchers found no association between minimally processed foods and IBD. Those foods include fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy products.
The researchers said their results were consistent for both ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Because the less-processed foods didn’t trigger bowel inflammation, the scientists suspect the way the food is produced, rather than the food itself, is the culprit.
So think in similar terms when choosing meals: Minimally processed food could mean minimal digestive issues.