Small Amounts of Processed Foods Tied to Big Health Risks, New Research Suggests

A new large-scale study has found that eating more ultra-processed foods—such as sugary drinks, packaged snacks, and processed meats—may significantly increase the risk of serious health problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, and digestive disorders. 

Researchers found that every additional 100 grams of ultra-processed food consumed daily was associated with a 14.5 percent higher risk of hypertension, a 5.9 percent increased risk of cardiovascular events, a 1.2 percent increase in cancer risk, and a nearly 20 percent higher risk of digestive diseases. It also correlated with a 2.6 percent rise in the risk of death from any cause.

“Ultra-processed foods are characterized by high sugar, high salt, and other non-nutritive components, exhibiting low nutritional density yet high caloric content,” said Xiao Liu, MD, from the department of cardiology at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China. 

Adobe

“These products may contribute to adverse health outcomes through multiple mechanisms, including but not limited to dysregulation of blood lipid profiles, alterations in gut microbiota composition, promotion of obesity, induction of systemic inflammation, exacerbation of oxidative stress and impairment of insulin sensitivity.”

The findings—which are being presented at the ACC Asia 2025 Together with SCS 36th Annual Scientific Meeting in Singapore—are based on a comprehensive review of 41 prospective cohort studies from regions, including the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. Combined, these studies involved over 8.2 million adults and examined how ultra-processed food intake was linked to various health outcomes.

What are ultra-processed foods?

Ultra-processed foods, defined using the Nova classification system, are industrially manufactured products made from refined ingredients and food additives such as preservatives, colorants, and flavor enhancers. Common examples include sugar-sweetened beverages, chips, candy, and other packaged foods.

Adobe

The study also found associations between ultra-processed food consumption and increased rates of obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. The strength of evidence for most outcomes ranged from moderate to high, according to the GRADE evaluation system.

Another risk: Parkinson’s disease

Further compounding concerns, a study published today in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, found that people who consume high amounts of ultra-processed foods are more likely to show early signs of Parkinson’s disease—even before the typical motor symptoms appear.

The study followed over 42,000 people with an average age of 48 for up to 26 years. Researchers assessed participants for signs of prodromal Parkinson’s disease, a stage where the disease has begun to affect the nervous system but symptoms like tremors and mobility issues have not yet emerged.

RELATED: Are Ultra-Processed Foods Shortening Your Life? Study Reveals Startling Impact

For this study, researchers looked at several types of ultra processed foods, including condiments, packaged sweets, artificially or sugar-sweetened beverages, animal-based products, yogurt or dairy-based desserts, and packaged savory snacks. One serving was equivalent to a single can of soda, one ounce of potato chips, one slice of packaged cake, a single hot dog or one tablespoon of ketchup.

After adjusting for lifestyle factors such as age, physical activity, and smoking, the findings revealed that individuals consuming 11 or more servings of ultra-processed foods per day were 2.5 times more likely to exhibit three or more early Parkinson’s signs, compared to those eating fewer than three servings per day. These signs included REM sleep behavior disorder, loss of smell, depression, excessive daytime sleepiness, and impaired color vision. 

“Eating a healthy diet is crucial as it has been associated with a lower risk of neurodegenerative diseases, and the dietary choices we make today can significantly influence our brain health in the future,” said study author Xiang Gao, MD, PhD, of Institute of Nutrition, Fudan University in Shanghai, China. “There’s growing evidence that diet might influence the development of Parkinson’s disease. Our research shows that eating too much processed food, like sugary sodas and packaged snacks, might be speeding up early signs of Parkinson’s disease.”

The case for a whole-foods diet

Researchers from both studies urge individuals and governments to take action. Liu emphasized that reducing intake of these foods, even in small amounts, could provide meaningful health benefits. “Emerging evidence suggests a dose-response relationship between ultra-processed food consumption and negative health outcomes—meaning the more ultra-processed foods consumed, the greater the health risk,” Lui says. “Therefore, reducing ultra-processed foods intake, even modestly, may offer measurable health benefits.”

Pexels

Beyond individual choices, the researchers suggest that policymakers consider stronger food labeling laws and better regulation of food additives to help curb consumption of ultra-processed products. The researchers also emphasized that the findings aren’t solely about what to cut out, but also about what to include. Growing evidence supports the health benefits of whole-foods diets rich in simple, whole ingredients and culturally relevant eating patterns like the Mediterranean diet and DASH diet.

“Choosing to eat fewer processed foods and more whole, nutritious foods could be a good strategy for maintaining brain health,” said Gao.

As ultra-processed foods continue to dominate global diets, these findings may serve as a crucial wake-up call for consumers, health professionals, and policymakers alike.