In 1976, when Elton John and Kiki Dee sang “Don’t go breaking my heart,” they were more concerned with love gone bad than food that done ‘em wrong. But now, 45 years later, it turns out that the real risk for heartbreak comes from ultraprocessed foods. A new study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology shows that eating ultraprocessed foods, even those touted as healthy, such as protein and energy bars and some breakfast cereals, ups your risk of heart attack and stroke.
During 18 years of follow-up on folks who started out without cardiovascular disease, the researchers found that each daily serving of ultraprocessed food was associated with:
-- A 7% increase in the risk of heart attack, coronary death and stroke in folks who developed cardiovascular disease.
-- A 9% increase in the risk of heart attack and coronary death in folks who developed coronary heart disease.
-- And a 9% percent increased risk in cardiovascular disease mortality.
Salty foods, low-calorie soft drinks, ultraprocessed meats and breads all were major culprits.
Unfortunately, ultraprocessed foods, such as prepared meals, cold cuts, hot dogs, fast food, packaged cookies and cakes, and snacks account for 58% of the calories consumed by the average American. They’re loaded with artificial color and flavors, chemical preservatives and stabilizers, and food substances like fat, starches and sugars that are reassembled to imitate a natural food, and they’re stripped of vitamins, minerals and fiber. So don’t go breakin’ your heart -- or your family’s. Opt for fresh, whole foods and lean animal proteins, such as salmon or ocean trout.
Are you bringing home the bacon? Stop it!
There are many types of Bacon: Sir Francis, who helped develop the scientific method of inquiry and experimentation; Kevin, who’s won hearts with his film work in “Mystic River” and “Footloose;” and Max, lead singer for the ‘80s British heavy metal band Moby Dick. However, the type of bacon made from fatty pork is not one that you want to serve up in a list of great bacons.
Researchers looked at data from half a million people ages 40 to 69 and found that eating just under 1 ounce of processed meat a day (equivalent to one slice of bacon) is associated with an alarming 44% increase in your risk for dementia over an eight-year stretch. Processed meats include deli meats, bacon and hot dogs that are preserved by smoking or salting, curing or adding chemical preservatives.
If you’re typical, you eat about 6.4 ounces a week of lunch meat, sausage, hot dogs, ham and, of course, bacon -- even though these meats have been classified as carcinogenic to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. (It’s even estimated that over 14,000 new cancer cases in 2015 resulted from excessive consumption of processed meat by Americans 20 and older.)
So, if you’re still bringing home the bacon, it’s time to make the switch to lean proteins such as salmon and skinless poultry or whole grains and fruits and veggies for breakfast and lunch. As you dodge cancer and heart woes, your brain will thank you for such smart thinking.
