Most of us are aware that while we might enjoy a slice of pizza and a fizzy juice, it’s not the healthiest choice – but we’re willing to accept that.
However, you may want to reconsider, as the decision between a hotdog and a plate of veggies could already be shortening your lifespan – and guzzling the pop could see you enter your twilight years earlier than anticipated.
Researchers have now pinpointed exactly how much time common ultra-processed foods can shave off your life. Nutritionist Luis Alberto Zamora discussed the University of Michigan study on TV recently, reports the Express US.
Astonishingly, they found that each time someone eats a hot dog, it costs them an average of 36 minutes of lifespan, while cured meats like prosciutto could cost you 24 minutes of life. Fancy a Diet Coke with that?
Sadly, that’ll cost you an additional 12 minutes.
Dr Olivier Jolliet, who led the study, said: “The urgency of dietary changes to improve human health… is clear. Our findings demonstrate that small, targeted substitutions offer a feasible and powerful strategy to achieve significant health and environmental benefits without requiring dramatic dietary shifts.”
The study ranked over 5,800 American foods, where the scientists analysed the health costs of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and fruits and vegetables, looking at their additives, fats, calories and sugar content.
Foods like hot dogs, Diet Coke and cheeseburgers can shave minutes off your life due to harmful additives such as artificial flavours, preservatives, and emulsifiers.
Breakfast sandwiches and eggs cut off 13 minutes while cheeseburgers take away nine. High consumption of UPFs is also associated with a 50 per cent higher risk of cardiovascular related death, a 48-53 per cent increase in mental health issues like anxiety and depression, and a 12 per cent greater chance of developing type two diabetes.
More than 10,000 people in Scotland die each year from unhealthy diets and obesity is the leading cause of death in Scotland, accounting for 23 per cent of all deaths, according to Public Health Scotland.
But it wasn’t all doom and gloom. The scientists discovered that eating certain types of fish could add up to 32 minutes to a person’s life and for every 10 per cent of daily calories that come from fruit and veg instead of processed meats, we could live for an extra 48 minutes.
The Daily Record has contacted Coca-Cola for comment.
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