People who regularly consume ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are more likely to age faster than those with a lower intake, new research has suggested.
A recent study conducted in Italy has found that a high intake of frozen pizza, ready meals and fizzy drinks is associated with increased signs of biological ageing.
Biological age refers to how old your cells and tissues are based on physiological evidence. Meanwhile, chronological age measures a person’s age from their calendar date of birth until the date their age is asked.
More than 22,000 adults from Italy took part in the trial.
The results have revealed that the participants who regularly consume UPFs were roughly four months older biologically compared to their chronological age.
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However, the participants with a low intake of UPFs were around two months younger than their biological age, the study has reported.
Prior research has indicated that a high intake of UPFs is associated with a higher risk of health complications, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, cancer and even death.
Senior author Simona Esposito said: “Our data show that a high consumption of UPFs not only has a negative impact on health in general, but could also accelerate aging itself, suggesting a connection that goes beyond the poor nutritional quality of these foods.”
According to the results, UPFs can accelerate biological ageing because they tend to be higher in acrylamide – a chemical substance formed when starchy foods, such as potatoes and bread, are cooked at high temperatures.
In addition, these foods are linked to biological ageing because they are usually wrapped in plastic, which in some cases can leak into the food and cause harm.
Fellow author Marialaura Bonaccio said: “These products are often wrapped in plastic packaging, thus becoming vehicles of substances toxic to the body.”
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Corresponding author Professor Licia Iacoviello said: “This study prompts is once again to reevaluate the current dietary recommendations, which should also include warnings on limiting the intake of ultra-processed food in our daily diet.”
Examples of UPFs include ice cream, ready meals, ketchup, frozen pizza, fizzy drinks, chicken nuggets, instant noodles, baked beans, breakfast cereals, chocolate, cakes and fish fingers.
Otherwise known as heavily processed foods, UPFs have undergone several processing steps and include additives.
UPFs can increase blood sugar levels and can damage the microbiome – the microorganisms that live in, or on, a particular part of the body, such as the skin or gastrointestinal tract.
The study has been published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
