This is one of the most dangerous things you can do for Type 2 Diabetes. And we all do it from time to time.
It involves eating a common type of food: UPF
And according to a new study in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe, it spikes your risk of Type 2 Diabetes by almost 300%.
The researchers studied the diets of 311,000 people across 8 European countries.
Foods were categorized by processing level (NOVA classification).
Participants were followed for an average of 11 years.
The takeaway:
1. 10% increase in ultra-processed food (UPF) intake raised diabetes risk by 17%.
2. Replacing 10% of UPF with minimally-processed foods lowered risk by 18%.
3. Replacing 10% of UPF with medium-processed foods reduced risk by 14%.
4. Riskiest UPFs and their risk increases:
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- Savory snacks: 296% higher risk
- Animal-based products: 250% higher risk
- Ready-to-eat/heat mixed dishes: 16% higher risk
- Sweetened beverages: 25% higher risk
5. Some UPFs (like cereals, sweets, plant-based alternatives) surprisingly reduced risk.
The study suggests reducing UPF intake, especially the riskiest types, and favoring less processed foods to help prevent type 2 diabetes.