Link found between lower heart health and ultra-processed foods.

According to preliminary research, poorer cardiovascular health in Americans is likely linked to their eating habits, with half of their daily calorie intake coming from ultra-processed foods. Researchers at the US CDC found that there was an overall decrease in cardiovascular health, for every 5 percent rise in calorie consumption from ultra-processed foods. Individuals whose calorie intake is made up of roughly seventy percent of ultra-processed foods were fifty percent less likely to have sustainable cardiovascular health, compared to those who got forty percent or less of their calories from ultra-processed foods.

An epidemiologist at the CDC, Zefeng Zhang, stated: “Healthy diets play an important role in maintaining a healthy heart and blood vessels. Eating ultra-processed foods often displaces healthier foods that are rich in nutrients, like fruit, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein, which are strongly linked to good heart health. In addition, ultra-processed foods are often high in salt, added sugars, saturated fat and other substances associated with increasing the risk of heart disease.”

Past President of the American Heart Association and Dean of the College of Public Health at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Donna Arnett, stated: “This study underscores the importance of building a healthier diet by eliminating foods such as sugar-sweetened beverages, cookies, cakes and other processed foods. There are things you can do every day to improve your health just a little bit. For example, instead of grabbing that loaf of white bread, grab a loaf of bread that’s whole grain or wheat bread. Try replacing a hamburger with fish once or twice a week. Making small changes can add up to better heart health.”