Sweeping study of more than 100,000 people finds that ice cream, pizza and bacon increases the risk of heart disease

Processed foods are convenient, but they could lead to serious health risks, research suggests. Read More...

Processed food could mean an early death sentence for those who overeat treats like ice cream, pizza and bacon.

Two separate studies from France and Spain published in The British Medical Journal this week suggest eating processed food leads to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, and a higher risk of mortality.

Those who ate the most ‘ultra-processed foods had a greater risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular issues.

Researchers from the University of Paris collected data on the diets and health of more than 105,000 people aged 18 and up over the course of five years. Those who ate the most “ultra-processed” foods (typically made with ingredients like sugar, saturated fats, preservatives and sweeteners) had a greater risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular issues.

Here’s what the first study found:

• Nearly 18% of men’s overall diets were made up of heavily processed foods, the study found. Women’s diets, meanwhile, were comprised of 17.3% processed foods.

• When the consumption of overly processed foods rose 10 percentage points (for example, from 10% to 20%) the risk of these deadly diseases jumped 12%.

• Researchers concluded that 277 cases of cardiovascular disease would occur annually in 100,000 people who heavily relied on eating ultra-processed foods versus those who did not.

In the second study, also published in the BMJ, researchers at the University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain documented the dietary habits of more than 20,000 Spanish college graduates between 1999 and 2014.

Here’s what the second study found:

• People who consumed heavily processed foods (more than four servings of each per day) had a 62% increased risk for early death compared to those who indulged in these foods less often.

• What’s worse, consuming each additional serving increased the risk of death by 18%. Ultra-processed foods were likely to blame, lead researcher Maria Bes-Rastrollo said.

Of course, cutting out processed foods entirely can be challenging for many American families, Young said. And eating a mostly whole foods diet can be much more expensive. So if you’re eating five servings of processed food per day, Young suggests starting by cutting it down to at least three, and working towards lowering that intake.

Those who follow an ultra-processed diet could consume up to 500 more calories per day versus those who eat whole foods,

“Not everyone can afford to cut out processed foods entirely. Try to make your meals real food, and then you can indulge in a treat. Don’t have a processed dinner and then dessert,” registered dietitian Dr. Lisa Young, author of “Finally Full, Finally Slim” told MarketWatch.

Many Americans rely on processed foods for affordable and convenient nourishment, but their health ultimately pays the price. Those who follow an ultra-processed diet could consume up to 500 more calories per day compared to those who consume whole foods, according to a study published in the journal Cell Metabolism.

In that study, the unprocessed diet cost 40% more than an ultra-processed one.

The Food Processing Suppliers Association and the SNAC Association, the international trade association of the snack food industry, did not immediately return a request for comment.