Healthy foods that put you at risk of silent killer - with Brits more at risk

28 August 2023 , 02:06

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Researchers found that women who ate more ultra-processed foods like these 'healthy' choices upped their risk factor by 39 per cent (Image: Getty Images)

Experts are warning that so-called healthy foods could put you at risk of several silent killer diseases.

Brown bread, low-fat yoghurt and protein bars were singled out in the study, carried out by Australian scientists. Despite being seen as the healthier option, these foods can actually increase your risk of a number of deadly illnesses like heart attacks and high blood pressure.

Researchers found that women who ate more ultra-processed foods like these 'healthy' choices upped their risk factor by 39 per cent. They tracked the diets of 10,006 women aged 46 to 55 for 15 years.

Anushriya Pant, from the University of Sydney, told the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Amsterdam: “Ultra-processed foods tend to be lower in fibre, high in salt and sugars and all these factors are known to be anti-cardioprotective. A lot of foods that are advertised as ‘healthy’ because they are low in calories, when we look at the salt content, it’s too high. We know that high salt equals hypertension.”

She warned that British women could be particularly at risk because their diet typically contains 57 per cent of these foods. This is a third more than the highest intake in the study.

Surprising symptom that 40% of women suffer weeks before a heart attack

Previous research has linked ultra-processed foods with obesity, Type 2 diabetes and cancer. Katharine Jenner, director of the Obesity Health Alliance, said: “It should not be possible for companies to claim these are ‘healthy’.” In separate research presented at the conference, Chinese scientists found a clear link between ultra-processed foods and heart disease.

Symptoms of high blood pressure

The British Heart Foundation states a number of symptoms can be linked to high blood pressure. These include:

• blurred vision
• nosebleeds
• shortness of breath
• chest pain
• dizziness
• headaches.

More than one in four adults in the UK have high blood pressure but many will not know they have it. Many people with high blood pressure feel fine. But even if you feel fine, you should still have your blood pressure checked regularly.

If you're a healthy adult over 40, it's recommended that you get it checked at least once every five years. But if you're at increased risk of high blood pressure, you should have it checked more often, ideally once a year.

Hannah Kane