Given the sudden spurt in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) cases in India — which has doubled over the last 30 years, according to the Global Burden of Diseases report — it seems that our growing consumption of ultra-processed foods may be to blame.
Fatty and sugar-rich foods, increased intake of ultra-processed foods and exposure to food additives are believed to be responsible for increasing IBD numbers, says Dr Vishal Sharma, additional professor of gastroenterology, PGIMER, Chandigarh, who has been studying this link. A systematic review of about one million participants, published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, suggests that a higher intake of ultra-processed foods may be associated with Crohn’s disease, a form of IBD that involves chronic inflammation of the GI tract, which extends from your stomach all the way down to your anus.
What are ultra-processed foods?
These are defined as industrially-processed foods that are manufactured using one or multiple industrial processes or techniques. These may or may not include chemical modifications. Additives to improve flavour, appearance and shelf life make a food energy-dense at the cost of nutritional balance. These additives contain dyes, stabilisers, flavour enhancers, emulsifiers and defoaming agents. Ultra-processed foods are entirely altered and have high levels of unhealthy fats, refined sugars and salt. So when we eat them, we leave less room in our diets for more nutritious foods.
For example, when you have nuts whole, the body absorbs less of the fat than when the nut is ground and the oils are released. All this subsequently impacts the gut bacteria, which are unused to these foods and change, triggering inflammation.
How do we identify ultra-processed foods?
It’s difficult to identify these foods as the industrial techniques or processes involved in manufacturing are not provided in the product labels. Look for the presence of additives, colours, flavouring agents, sweeteners or emulsifiers.
What are the major concerns with increasing intake of ultra processed foods?
Most ultra-processed foods are energy-dense with no or minuscule amounts of roughage. They have excess sugar and fat and are very low on protective fibres, protein, potassium and phytoestrogens, the last key to our nervous system and reproductive health. Coupled with additional lifestyle risk factors (sedentary habits, reduced physical activity), this is a proverbial ‘primordial soup’ for the genesis of non-communicable diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver and cancers among others. A higher intake of ultra processed foods also seems to increase the risk of all-cause mortality.
How do ultra-processed foods impact gut health?
Large studies have shown that ultra-processed foods damage the healthy gut barrier that protects us from antigens. Increased intestinal permeability increases intestinal inflammation resulting in increased risk of gastrointestinal diseases, including IBD, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and colon cancer.
What are your recommendations for a diet plan to prevent IBD or ease it?
Use more fruits, vegetables and fibre. Avoid eating out, avoid high carbohydrates and fat. Food should be well-cooked. Even packaged breakfast cereals and mass-produced bread are ultra-processed foods.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
First uploaded on: 17-05-2024 at 14:05 IST
