DEAR Dr. Fritz,
Good day. I am kind of anxious because I have heard of these ultraprocessed foods that are linked to premature deaths all around the world. How true is this? I am particularly concerned about the kinds of foods we are consuming these days. What are these ultraprocessed foods, by the way?
Thanks, and hope to hear from you soon.
My My
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Dear My My,
Yes. You have heard it right. There was a recent global analysis that found that consuming ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) is associated with premature deaths from all causes of mortality. Moreover, they also showed that as the proportion of UPFs in an individual’s total energy intake increases, so does the risk for premature death.
UPFs are ready-to-eat or heat industrial formulations that are made with ingredients extracted from foods or synthesized in laboratories, with little or no whole foods in their composition. They are domineering in our global food supply and they have already accounted for over half of the average daily energy content of the diets in many high-income countries, like Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, United Kingdom, and the United States, where 124,000 premature deaths in 2018 were credited to UPF consumption.
These UPFs are found in sweetened breakfast cereals, soda, flavored potato chips, white bread, fried chicken, flavored candy bar with long ingredient list, frozen, blended coffee drink, mashed potato flakes, energy drink, flavored granola bars with added sugar and preservatives, and artificially flavored cheese crackers.
While consumption of these UPFs could be much lower in low-income countries, like the Philippines, it cannot be denied that these UPFs have started to invade our food baskets.
Although the study cannot prove that consumption of UPFs is harmful, it, however, provides evidence linking consumption of UPFs with poorer health outcomes. As of the moment, even if the said study isn’t that definite yet, but, just be cautious of what you are eating. After all, prevention is better than a cure.
Good luck!
Dr. Fritz
(Dr. Fritz Legarde Espedilla is an aesthetic dermatologist, surgeon, and clinical sexologist. She is also trained in hypnotherapy and Medical Acupuncture. She has been in the broadcast media for more than a decade and has written a book based on her 15-year stint with her radio program, “Healthy is Sexy Secrets ni Dr. Fritz.”. For your questions, you may send them to Dear Dr. Fritz, c/o Sunstar-Davao Publishing Inc., Door 11, Ebro-Pelayo Building 1, Juan Luna St., Barangay 29-C, Davao City, or e-mail them to dokatlaw@gmail.com. If you don’t wish your letter to be published, we regret that we cannot answer them. Thank you for your understanding.)