Are Koreans' Favorite Dishes More Harmful Than Smoking?...Experts Warn of "Premature Death"

"Ultra-Processed Foods Cause More Premature Deaths Than Smoking"

Affecting Cardiovascular Disease, Depression, and Fatty Liver

Experts have issued warnings that highly processed foods—such as chicken, snacks, and ready-to-eat meals commonly consumed by Koreans—can lead to premature death. They emphasize the need for caution, as ultra-processed foods like processed meats, sugar-sweetened beverages, and trans fats can affect cardiovascular disease and depression.

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On March 25 (local time), the UK media outlet The Mirror quoted Chris van Tulleken, an infectious disease specialist in the UK and author of the book "Ultra-Processed People," as saying, "Ultra-processed foods are extremely harmful to health and have surpassed smoking as a leading cause of premature death."

Ultra-processed foods refer to products that are manufactured through industrial processes and contain a variety of food additives such as artificial sweeteners, preservatives, and colorants. Common examples include fast food, processed meats, snacks, and instant meals.

The More Ultra-Processed Foods You Eat, the Greater the Risk of Death

Numerous studies have confirmed the link between ultra-processed foods and health risks. According to a large-scale cohort study in France in 2019, every 10% increase in the consumption of ultra-processed foods raised overall mortality risk by about 14%. Research by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also found that for every 10% increase in the caloric intake from ultra-processed foods, cardiovascular health scores dropped by approximately 0.13 points.

An international research team, including Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the United States, conducted a meta-analysis of 14 related studies published over the past three years (with about 10 million participants). The results showed that higher consumption of ultra-processed foods was associated with about a 50% greater risk of death from cardiovascular disease.

Mental Health Also at Risk

The impact of ultra-processed foods is not limited to physical health. A study by researchers at Florida Atlantic University in the United States, which analyzed data from 10,359 adults aged 18 and older, found that people who obtained more than 80% of their daily intake from ultra-processed foods had a 1.81 times higher risk of depression compared to those whose intake was less than 20%.

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Experts stress that, rather than quitting ultra-processed foods all at once, a more realistic alternative is to gradually reduce their proportion in the diet. They advise that lowering dependence on processed foods and switching to a diet focused on fresh, natural foods will help with long-term health management.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.