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jayschool2013

(2,466 posts)
Fri Aug 2, 2024, 06:05 AM Aug 2024

NY Times: More Evidence Links Ultraprocessed Foods to Dementia

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Bylines and first four graphs.

By Dana G. Smith and Alice Callahan

People who regularly eat processed red meat, like hot dogs, bacon, sausage, salami and bologna, have a greater risk of developing dementia later in life. That was the conclusion of preliminary research presented this week at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference.

The study tracked more than 130,000 adults in the United States for up to 43 years. During that period, 11,173 people developed dementia. Those who consumed about two servings of processed red meat per week had a 14 percent greater risk of developing dementia compared to those who ate fewer than three servings per month.

Eating unprocessed red meat, like steak or pork chops, did not significantly increase the risk for dementia, though people who ate it every day were more likely to report that they felt their cognition had declined than those who ate red meat less often. (The results of the study have not yet been published in a journal.)

The vast majority of processed meats are classified as “ultraprocessed foods” — products made with ingredients that you wouldn’t find in a home kitchen, like soy protein isolate, high fructose corn syrup, modified starches, flavorings or color additives. Many of these foods also have high levels of sugar, fat or sodium, which have long been known to adversely affect health.

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brewens

(15,359 posts)
1. About the time COVID hit I was getting into all whole foods/homemade. That saved my ass! It was at least
Fri Aug 2, 2024, 06:13 AM
Aug 2024

easier to find what I could get by on when a lot of stuff was out of stock. If I'd still been eating all the canned and frozen shit I would have had real trouble.

I'm retired and have the time and like to cook. It saves me a fortune and is much healthier.

no_hypocrisy

(48,813 posts)
2. I don't buy processed food. I buy ingredients.
Fri Aug 2, 2024, 06:16 AM
Aug 2024

Then I prepare and/or cook recipes. I can also control the sugar and the salt content that way.

Diamond_Dog

(34,646 posts)
3. Hubby and I gave up all processed deli meats and red meat years ago.
Fri Aug 2, 2024, 06:33 AM
Aug 2024

I buy a package of bacon once a year for BLTs with my garden tomatoes and that’s all.

NNadir

(34,664 posts)
4. This may explain "burger brain" Trump, but on the other hand, his dementia may be genetic. His father...
Fri Aug 2, 2024, 06:37 AM
Aug 2024

...died of Alzheimer's, which is seldom mentioned in the media, certainly not the pro-Trump NY Times.

keithbvadu2

(40,120 posts)
5. For proper nutrition, you should partake from the five basic food groups:::
Fri Aug 2, 2024, 08:30 AM
Aug 2024

(A friend who was knowledgeable about foods and nutrition spoke strongly against
high fructose corn syrup. She felt it was responsible for much of our diabetes situation.)

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For proper nutrition, you should partake from the five basic food groups:::

Salt
Sugar
Alcohol
Fats
Caffeine

Chocolate is somewhere around vitamins and minerals.

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