If you want to avoid cardiovascular disease while eating cereal, check the ingredients list.

A study found that even if it is 'plant-based', consuming it as processed food can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Plant-based foods are considered good for heart health. Studies have shown that people who follow a plant-based diet have a lower risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack and stroke.

 

On the other hand, consumption of ultra-processed foods that have undergone extensive processing has been reported to be associated with obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. What about ultra-processed foods made from plant-based ingredients? While these plant-based foods, such as meat substitutes and cereals, are derived from plants, they are often high in salt, fat, and sugar, and often contain many artificial additives.

A joint research team from the University of São Paulo in Brazil and Imperial College London in the UK conducted a study to determine the impact of ultra-processed plant-based foods on cardiovascular disease. They extracted data from 126,842 adults aged 40 to 69 who had their diets assessed by the UK Biobank. They then categorized their diets by the degree of processing and whether they contained animal or plant-based ingredients, according to the food classification system, and followed them for an average of nine years.

 

The analysis found that a 10 percentage point increase in consumption of ultra-processed plant-based foods was associated with a 5% increase in cardiovascular disease risk and a 12% increase in mortality from cardiovascular disease. Conversely, consumption of unprocessed plant-based foods was associated with a 7% lower risk of cardiovascular disease and a 13% lower mortality rate.

 

The research team predicted that while ultra-processed plant-based foods are often marketed as healthy choices, they may actually be worse choices. They also argued that guidelines should be revised to encourage consumers to reduce their intake of ultra-processed foods and favor plant-based diets.

 

“Even though these foods are plant-based, their composition and processing methods may contribute to risk factors such as dyslipidemia and hypertension,” said study author Dr. Fernanda Lauber.

 

“Our study provides a strong argument for encouraging a reduction in the consumption of ultra-processed foods, whether animal or plant-based,” said another author, Dr. Renata Levy.

 

Meanwhile, to reduce your intake of ultra-processed foods, it's important to first determine whether your favorite foods are ultra-processed. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) defines ultra-processed foods as those containing casein, lactose, gluten, maltodextrin, high-fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, and flavor enhancers.

 

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We don't really like cereal,

It's better to eat it with milk

My mom is here

 

They are usually high in salt, fat, sugar, and artificial additives.

 

It's essential to check for artificial additives when purchasing.