A study out of Italy has once again raised alarms about the health impacts of ultra-processed foods (UPFs). The research, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, links a diet rich in packaged snacks, sugary drinks, and other industrially processed products to accelerated biological aging.
Biological age, which reflects the condition of our cells and tissues, is distinct from chronological age—the number of years a person has been alive. While genetics play a role in how quickly we age, lifestyle habits such as diet and exercise can also have a significant impact. This new study shows that for middle-aged and elderly adults, consuming more than 14% of daily calories from UPFs can make them biologically older than their actual age.
