Ultra-Processed Foods And Your Gut

Ultra-Processed Food & Your Gut

Do you snack on chips and baked goods, quench your thirst with sugary drinks, or grab pre-packaged lunches on the go? 

Processed foods are convenient and tempting. They may seem harmless. But making a habit of eating ultra-processed foods could potentially put the health of your gut in jeopardy. 

New research that tracked more than 100,000 people in 7 regions around the world for an average of almost 10 years found….

...those who ate more ultra-processed foods had a higher risk of developing an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. 

👉 Compared to eating just one serving of ultra-processed food per day, those who ate 5 or more servings per day had an 82% higher risk of IBD. 

This was an observational study, which means it cannot prove a cause-and-effect relationship. The study also doesn’t tell us exactly what it is about processed foods that might be damaging to the gut. There are a lot of options, like…

➡️ High sugar

➡️ Refined grains

➡️ Trans fats

➡️ Artificial sweeteners

➡️ Artificial flavors

➡️ Food dyes

➡️ Chemical preservatives

Many ultra-processed foods contain all of these things, making them the perfect storm to irritate the gut. 

So, do your gut a favor. Next time you’re tempted by a processed meal or snack, look for other options based on whole and fresh foods—like fruits, veggies, nuts, cheese, and whole grains.