Eating lots of ultra-processed foods may dramatically increase your risk for dementia, according to a new study by researchers in China.
Ultra-processed foods are high in sugar, fat and salt, but low in protein and fiber. Sodas, salty and sugary snacks and desserts, ice cream, sausage, deep-fried chicken, flavored yogurt, ketchup, mayonnaise, packaged bread and flavored cereals are all examples.
Replacing these foods with healthier alternatives may lower the odds for dementia by 19%, the study found.
“These results mean that it is important to inform consumers about these associations, implement actions targeting product reformulation, and communicate to limit the proportion of ultra-processed foods in the diet and [instead] promote the consumption of unprocessed or minimally processed foods like fresh vegetables and fruits instead,” said lead researcher Huiping Li, from the School of Public Health at Tianjin Medical University….