New research suggests there’s an unholy trinity of ways that ultra-processed foods (UPFs) can sabotage men’s health.
A team of researchers from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark set out to determine how the processed nature of food affects men, assuming that calories and nutrients are kept consistent.
UPFs include packaged goods, drinks, cereals and ready-to-eat products that contain colors, emulsifiers, flavors and other additives. UPFs are typically high in sugar, saturated fat and salt and devoid of vitamins and fiber.
UPFs are characterized not only by their potentially dangerous and lab-made ingredients but also by the industrial scale of their manufacturing.
While countless studies have found a link between UPFs and poor health outcomes, including but not limited to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, metabolic syndrome, obesity, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, Type 2 diabetes, depression, dementia and even premature death, it is not always clear if these adverse effects are due to the ingredients, processing or amount of UPFs consumed.
“We were shocked by how many body functions were disrupted by ultra-processed foods, even in healthy young men,” molecular biologist Romain Barrès, from the University of Copenhagen, said in a statement.
“The long-term implications are alarming and highlight the need to revise nutritional guidelines to better protect against chronic disease.”
His study, published in Cell Metabolism, had 43 men between the ages of 20 and 35 eat two different diets for three weeks each, with a three-month break in between.
These eating plans were matched in total calorie and nutrient intake, but UPFs made up 77% of calories in one diet. The other was 66% unprocessed foods.
The UPF-heavy diet loosely mirrors the average American’s daily caloric intake, with 60% of their calories coming from UPFs.
In the new study, men on the UPF diet suffered three major consequences. First, they gained an average of 2.2 pounds of extra fat mass.
There was also a concerning increase in their levels of the phthalate chemical cx-MINP, a known endocrine disruptor.
And the UPF diet correlated with a drop in testosterone levels and sperm production.
Researchers note that over the past 50 years, with the rise of UPF consumption, sperm quality has decreased worldwide. Scientists have long suspected a link between UPFs and subpar swimmers.
“We found that UPF consumption influences cardiometabolic and reproductive health,” the researchers said.
“Diets also caused a trend in the differential accumulation of contaminants in blood and seminal fluid.”
Researchers acknowledged the limitations of their study, including the small sample size, gender exclusivity and short time frame; however, they maintain that their results suggest limiting UPF consumption and prioritizing healthier alternatives.
“Our results prove that ultra-processed foods harm our reproductive and metabolic health, even if they’re not eaten in excess,” said nutrition scientist Jessica Preston from the University of Copenhagen. “This indicates that it is the processed nature of these foods that makes them harmful.”
According to a recent study, UPFs make up an estimated 73% of the US food supply,
Previous research has established that the highest-risk UPFs are savory snacks, animal-based products such as processed meats, ready-to-eat meals and beverages sweetened by sugar or an artificial substitute.
As a general guideline, if something comes in a bag or a box and has a shelf life measured in years, it’s more than likely a UPF.
