A new study published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology has revealed that intake of packaged foods with additive emulsifiers is silently raising risks of type 2 diabetes. Food additive emulsifiers are used to stabilise food items and extend their shelf life. It is usually added to processed foods like cakes, biscuits, ice creams, and more. The study, after extensive research, found that this food additive can significantly increase your risk of type 2 diabetes. Scroll on to know more about this.
Packaged Foods With Emulsifiers Are Raising Risk Of Diabetes: Study
A new study has found that consuming packaged foods with food emulsifiers can increase your risk of diabetes. Published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology, this study showed that food emulsifiers can increase the risks of type 2 diabetes. Emulsifiers enhance the appearance of food items and increase their shelf life. Manufactures usually use emulsifiers in processed foods like cakes, biscuits, yoghurts, ice creams, and chocolates. Some of the most common additive emulsifiers are pectins, modified starches, lecithins, phosphates, celluloses, gums, and diglycerides of fatty acids.
For this study, the researchers analysed data from 104,139 adults who enrolled in the French NutriNet-Santé prospective cohort study from May 2009 to April 2023. They assessed them for 24 hours on 3 non-consecutive days, and every 6 months thereafter to determine their risk for type 2 diabetes. Finally, after 6.8-year follow-ups, they diagnosed 1,065 participants with type 2 diabetes.
Also Read: How Much Sugar Can You Have In A Day?
How Emulsifiers Can Cause Type 2 Diabetes?
Researchers studied the possible links between the dietary intake of food additive emulsifiers and the onset of type 2 diabetes. As per their findings, “chronic consumption of certain emulsifier additives can cause a higher risk of diabetes.” These emulsifiers include pectins, modified starches, lecithins, phosphates, celluloses, gums, and diglycerides of fatty acids.
According to a report in Hindustan Times, emulsifiers could upset your gut flora, and raise the danger of inflammation and metabolic disturbance. This, in turn, can lead to insulin resistance and diabetes.
Improving your diet and adopting a healthy and active lifestyle are some ways to reduce the risks of diabetes.
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