DID YOU KNOW…
About 55% of Americans' daily calories come from eating ultra-processed foods!
What are ultra-processed foods? They include the likes of fast foods and convenience foods that are chock full of unhealthy fats, refined starches, hydrogenated fats, and added sugar. A new study suggests that the more calories we eat from ultra-processed foods, the worse our heart health becomes.
In fact, adults who ate +/-70%of their calories from ultra-processed foods were half as likely to have "ideal" cardiovascular health when compared with people who ate 40% or less of their calories from ultra-processed foods. The study found a strong correlation with every 5% increase in ultra-processed food calories and poorer overall heart and blood vessel health.
While the study does not prove exact cause and effect, ultra-processed foods, according to Dr. Zefeng Zhang (the doc with the CDC who ran the study) "Healthy diets play an important role in maintaining a healthy heart and blood vessels. Eating ultra-processed foods often displaces healthier foods that are rich in nutrients, like fruit, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein, which are strongly linked to good heart health. In addition, ultra-processed foods are often high in salt, added sugars, saturated fat and other substances associated with increasing the risk of heart disease."
Dr. Eugenia Gianos, director of Women's Heart Health in New York, comments that highly processed foods are "essentially devoid of nutrients required for health. They also may increase inflammation, negatively affect the balance of bacteria in the gut, and contribute to the development of plaque deposits in the blood vessels.”
"The study reinforces the need to educate the public on the benefits of a nutrient-rich, whole food, predominantly plant-based diet for optimal health," Gianos said.
Wow!! Findings are going to be presented to the American Heart Association this month!
Check out some my holiday favorite archived plant-based recipes like Home for the Holidays Cranberry Granola and Butternut Squash Chili. Both recipes make plenty so you can grab the goodness of whole plant food leftovers just as fast as any convenience food!
Not inclined to cook? Check out Nature’s Plate right here in Dallas. They have a special holiday menu that looks fab! See the link below:
https://sendbottles.com/NaturesPlate/bottle_subscriptions/1024
