photo #8811571

This is huge. The new Lancet series on ultra processed foods brings together findings from more than a hundred long-term studies, and the conclusions point in the same direction: diets dominated by UPFs are strongly associated with higher risks of chronic disease across nearly every major organ system. Out of the 104 studies reviewed, 92 found that people who consumed more ultra processed foods faced increased risks of conditions such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, depression, chronic kidney disease, and a range of metabolic and inflammatory disorders. In many high-income countries, more than half of total daily calories now come from these highly engineered products, which suggests that the issue has become a widespread structural problem rather than an individual dietary choice.According to the authors, the harm of UPFs cannot be reduced to their amounts of fat, sugar, or salt. Instead, it has to do with the nature and intensity of the processing itself. Ultra-processing disrupts the natural structure of foods, alters the biological signals our bodies rely on for hunger and metabolism, and surrounds people with addictive, hyper-palatable products that displace more nutrient-dense foods. Because UPFs are inexpensive, convenient, and aggressively marketed, especially to children, they reshape eating patterns in ways most people never consciously choose.The Lancet series claims that humans are simply not biologically adapted to rely on diets filled with industrially processed products. This mismatch between modern food systems and human physiology may be contributing to the global rise in chronic illness, affecting everything from metabolic function to mental health. The authors suggest that reversing this trend will require systemic solutions rather than placing all responsibility on individuals. They call for measures such as tighter regulations on UPF production (what RFK Jr is trying to do), restrictions on marketing, clearer front-of-package labeling, and policies that increase access to fresh and minimally processed foods. In their view, meaningful progress depends on reshaping the food environment itself so that healthier choices become accessible, affordable, and culturally supported.