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POLITIKOFF

This type of food can increase the risk of a deadly disease

Politiko 2025-05-14 13:54:51

This type of food can increase the risk of a deadly disease

People who regularly consume ultra-processed foods have almost three times the risk of developing Parkinson's disease, a study suggests.

Chinese scientists found that people who ate 11 or more servings of ultra-processed foods a day were 2.5 times more likely to show early signs of a progressive movement disorder, Parkinson's disease, compared to those who ate three or fewer servings.

However, even eating three or fewer servings increases the risk by up to 60%, depending on the specific type of food.

A serving is equivalent to a can of soda or a spoonful of ketchup, but other foods that are considered healthy, such as salads and prepared meats, can also be ultra-processed.

Symptoms

The earliest signs of Parkinson's disease in the study included sleep problems, fatigue, constipation and a reduced sense of smell.

These symptoms precede characteristic signs such as tremors and balance problems, and can appear decades before diagnosis.

Writing in a medical journal this week, researchers suggested that artificial additives in these foods, such as emulsifiers, sweeteners and preservatives, may promote inflammation and oxidative stress, which damages neurons in the brain that produce dopamine, the neurotransmitter that controls movement.

In addition, these foods are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream and negatively affect the microbiome, the community of "friendly" bacteria that live in the gut and communicate with the brain.

Harmful bacteria cause inflammation in the brain that destroys neurons responsible for producing dopamine.

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