Anna Hartz
Three Weeks on Processed Food Was Enough to Damage Men’s Health
Supermarket shelves are full of convenient food. Protein bars, chips, frozen dinners, flavored drinks, and sweetened snacks are everywhere.
They are easy to buy, easy to eat, and they often look harmless. But new research shows these foods may come with a serious cost to health.
Targets Overall Health and Fertility
A new study with Danish participation has found that ultra-processed food can harm young men’s fertility and overall health, according to Videnskab.
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen tested how such products affect the body. The results were clear.
Forty-three healthy men between 20 and 35 years old took part in the study. For three weeks they ate only ultra-processed food such as packaged snacks, ready-made meals, and protein shakes.
Worsened Health
For another three weeks they switched to minimally processed food like fresh vegetables, whole grains, and fish. The meals had the same amounts of calories, fat, and protein.
Despite that, the difference in health was striking. After eating ultra-processed food, the men had worse sperm quality, lower testosterone, and more body fat.
On average, they gained about one kilo of fat during the three weeks. Several markers of heart health also declined.
But How?
Researchers are not yet sure why these foods cause harm. They suspect artificial additives may play a role.
Such substances can affect gut bacteria and even damage the gut lining, leading to inflammation. The texture of processed food may also matter.
It is often soft and easy to chew, which can make people eat more without feeling full. Ultra-processed products also tend to contain fewer fibers, which changes how the body absorbs calories.
Lasting Health Problems
The study also measured higher levels of hormone-disrupting chemicals in the blood after the processed diet. These may come from food packaging.
Scientists stress that the results are worrying, especially if people eat this type of food for years.
They warn of lasting health problems if diets continue to rely heavily on industrial products.
Researchers hope the findings will push politicians to take the issue seriously and encourage people to rethink what they put in their shopping baskets.
