Scientists Found Another Disturbing Thing Ultra-Processed Food Does to Your Body
VICE • • health
Key Points:
- A study of 2,192 Australian adults found a small but noticeable link between consumption of ultra-processed foods and declining attention, with higher intake correlating to lower attention scores and increased estimated dementia risk.
- The negative effects of ultra-processed foods on attention were observed even among participants following healthy diets like the Mediterranean diet, suggesting that even small amounts of junk food can dampen overall diet benefits.
- The research controlled for overall diet quality, indicating that the presence of ultra-processed foods impacts attention regardless of other healthy lifestyle factors.
- While the study does not prove causation and focuses on attention rather than memory, it aligns with concerns about nutrient depletion and additives in ultra-processed foods contributing to cognitive decline.
- Further research is needed to confirm these findings, but current evidence suggests that ultra-processed foods may impair attention, potentially affecting long-term memory and brain health.
