THE overconsumption of highly processed foods of all age groups can, according to a recent study published in the “BMJ” (British Medical Journal), lead to increased risk of death up to 50%, while it is associated with an increase in cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, anxiety, depression and mental disorders in general. The unpleasant remarks belong to the clinical dietician, biologist, head of the Dietetic Department at GNA Laiko Haris Dimosthenopoulos, who in an interview with the FM Agency, mentions at the same time that the pathological conditions associated with the overconsumption of these foods can exceed 30, between including some forms of cancer involving the stomach and intestine. “Ultra-processed foods are also partly related to pancreatic and liver cancer, which in recent years are the most aggressive and particularly dangerous forms.”

Four categories of processed foods

But how are these foods categorized? An official categorization classifies foods called processed into 4 groups, Mr. Dimosthenopoulos answers and explains: The first includes very little processed foods, such as some frozen fruits, some seeds or legumes, lentils or even milk. The second group includes those that undergo a little more processing, mainly to extend their presence inside the package, such as olive oil, butter, or honey. In the third group the processing is more intense and has to do with canning for foods such as meat, fish, or compote. And the fourth group, about which there is a lot of talk, are ultra-processed foods, which have a low nutritional value and unfortunately exist in our diet as snacks, as treats, or evening order, with high amounts of sugar and salt, or additives that they enhance the color, or the taste”. Such foods, according to the well-known nutritionist, are burgers, pizzas, hot dogs, french fries, carbonated drinks, energy drinks, chocolates, packaged breads, margarines, packaged cookies, breakfast cereals, but also desserts that are either refrigerated or frozen. in supermarkets. Mr. Dimosthenopoulos mentions that they cannot be completely eliminated from our diet, despite the fact that we know they are unhealthy. However, he emphasizes that it is good to have moderate consumption, as little as possible in our overall weekly diet.

What do we look for in labels?

With regard to the dangerous Epsilon, which has been talked about for many years, Mr. Dimosthenopoulos mentions that in recent years, according to the EU, Epsilon is not recorded on the packaging, but the name of the substance, which, however, an unrelated consumer with nutrition science, he won’t easily understand some names. “But reading the label, and this is a lesson that should also be in schools for children, if we see in a product that the sugar content is a very large percentage of carbohydrates, or if the percentage of vegetable fiber is almost zero, or the salt content is high, or the saturated content, we easily understand that this choice is burdensome.”