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(NEWS) Ultra-processed foods: 47% higher risk of heart attack – Large US study reveals alarming links

Norman Reffke
Mar 8
3 min read

Updated: Mar 12

The facts at a glance:

4,787 US adults were analyzed in the new NHANES study (2021–2023).
A 47% higher risk of heart attack or stroke was found in people with the highest consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs).
Lancet Series: 43 international experts warn of a global health threat and call for political action.
Alarming prevalence: UPFs now make up almost 60% of the average adult diet in the USA.

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) have become an indispensable part of modern life. They are convenient, have a long shelf life, and are extremely tasty. But the price of this convenience could be higher than previously thought. New research findings from March 2026, published in the prestigious American Journal of Medicine and simultaneously in a series in the medical journal The Lancet , paint a clear picture: High consumption of highly processed foods is directly linked to a drastically increased risk of serious cardiovascular events.

The NHANES study: A wake-up call for heart health

Researchers at the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The analysis included 4,787 adults over the age of 18. Participants meticulously documented their diets over two days, after which the researchers calculated the proportion of ultra-processed foods in their total calorie intake.

The result is significant: Even after adjusting for factors such as age, gender, physical activity and smoking status, those participants who consumed the most UPFs had a 47% higher relative risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke compared to the group with the lowest consumption.

"The results of our study, based on a large, nationally representative sample, show that individuals with the highest UPF consumption have a statistically significant and clinically meaningful 47% higher risk of cardiovascular disease. These findings have major implications for future research, clinical care, and public health policy." — Dr. Charles H. Hennekens, Senior Author of the Study

The Lancet Series: UPFs as a global systems problem

Parallel to the US study, The Lancet published a comprehensive series involving 43 experts from around the world. They identified links between high UPF consumption and 12 different health conditions , including not only cardiovascular disease, but also type 2 diabetes, depression, and increased overall mortality.

Experts criticize the fact that the problem cannot be solved solely on an individual level. UPFs are designed to bypass physiological satiety mechanisms and stimulate the brain's reward system – similar to addictive substances.

"What the tobacco industry once did with a leaf—chemically refining and flavoring it to intensify its appeal—food corporations have done with corn, potatoes, and wheat. The result is a food system designed not to nourish us, but to keep us coming back for more." — Dr. Ashley Gearhardt, psychologist at the University of Michigan and co-author

Mechanisms: Why do UPFs harm the body?

The harmful effects of ultra-processed foods cannot be explained solely by their high sugar, fat, and salt content. Research points to more complex mechanisms:

Structural matrix: Due to the industrial destruction of the food matrix, nutrients are absorbed much faster, leading to rapid blood sugar spikes and a high insulin response.
Additives: Emulsifiers, colorings and flavorings can damage the intestinal barrier and negatively alter the microbiome, promoting systemic inflammation.
Inflammatory markers: High UPF consumption correlates with elevated levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), a key marker for chronic inflammation and a predictor of heart attacks.

Practical recommendations for everyday life

Given this data, reducing UPFs is one of the most effective levers for personal health care. The following steps are evidence-based and feasible:

Check the ingredient list: Avoid products with ingredients that you wouldn't find in a normal kitchen (e.g., hydrolysates, invert sugar, flavor enhancers).
Change your shopping habits: Focus on the outer areas of the supermarket, where you will usually find fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and dairy products, and avoid the middle aisles with packaged goods.
Cooking for yourself: Preparing meals from unprocessed basic ingredients is the safest way to avoid UPFs.
Water instead of soft drinks: Sweetened beverages are one of the main sources of ultra-processed calories.

Sources & Further Reading

Hennekens, CH et al. (2026). "Consumption of ultra-processed foods and increased risks of cardiovascular disease." The American Journal of Medicine . View abstract
Popkin, BM, et al. (2026). "Ultra-Processed Foods and Human Health." The Lancet Series . To the series
Florida Atlantic University (2026). "Ultra-processed foods linked to 47% higher risk of heart attack and stroke." ScienceDaily . Press release
University of Michigan (2026). "New studies say ultraprocessed foods seen as global public health threat." Read report