Highly processed foods can make it harder to lose weight, even if the diet meets official recommendations for a healthy diet, according to British scientists who published the results of the longest-running trial of a diet using ultra-processed foods (UPF) in Nature Medicine.
The study involved 55 adults who ate a diet that was largely minimally processed for eight weeks, followed by eight weeks of highly processed foods. Both phases followed the British Healthy Eating Guide and included the same ratio of protein, fat, and carbohydrates. All meals were delivered to the participants’ homes, but they chose the portions and time of their meals.
The results were revealing: when consuming minimally processed foods, participants lost an average of 1.84 kilograms, while on the UPF diet – only 0.88 kilograms. Also, only in the first phase was there a decrease in fat mass, fat percentage and visceral fat. In addition, the subjects had a decrease in food cravings and the desire to “snack”.
The mechanisms of this effect are not yet fully understood. Scientists suggest that the texture and structure of UPF make them more easily digestible, delaying the feeling of satiety. Additives, heat treatment, effects on the microbiota and inflammatory processes may also play an important role.
Джерело: ukr.media
