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| source : washingtonpost.com |
We’ve all heard the basics: junk food = bad for you. But a new Canadian study just dropped a truth bomb that makes this problem a whole lot more serious. Turns out, our bodies react to ultra-processed foods the same way they react to a pathogen, like a virus or harmful bacteria.
In other words: your immune system may literally think that bag of cheese puffs is a threat.
Let’s dig into what the study found, and why it’s not just about calories, but how your body actually perceives the food you eat.
The Study That Got Everyone Talking
Researchers from McMaster University in Canada published their findings in the journal Nutrition & Metabolism this May. What they discovered is kind of wild:
Ultra-processed foods may trigger inflammation in the body, raising C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, just like when you're sick or injured.
CRP is made by the liver when your body senses danger, whether it’s a virus, injury, or… now apparently, a packaged pastry.
Why Is CRP a Big Deal?
CRP is one of the most important markers of inflammation in the body. And chronic inflammation is linked to a whole host of conditions:
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Heart disease
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Type 2 diabetes
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Autoimmune disorders
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Certain cancers
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Even depression and cognitive decline
So yeah, anything that regularly spikes CRP isn't just “unhealthy”, it’s potentially damaging your health at the cellular level.
But What Exactly Is an Ultra-Processed Food?
Let’s be real: not all processed food is evil. Canned beans? Frozen broccoli? Those are still legit. But ultra-processed foods are a different beast.
They’re usually made from:
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Extracted sugars, fats, and starches
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Additives, flavorings, and stabilizers
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Very little, if any, real whole-food ingredients
Think:
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Packaged cakes and cookies
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Sugary breakfast cereals
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Frozen pizzas
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Soda and energy drinks
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“Snack bars” pretending to be healthy
According to the researchers, your body doesn’t even register these as food. Instead, it sees them more like foreign invaders, which sets off an immune response.
What the Numbers Say
The team studied 6,000 Canadians of various ages, income levels, and health backgrounds. Here’s what they found:
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The average person ate 3+ servings of ultra-processed foods a day
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Some participants ate 6+ servings daily
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High consumers were often men with lower income and education levels
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And yes, those who ate more junk food also ate fewer fruits and vegetables
It’s not just about what you’re eating, it’s what you’re not eating. These empty-calorie foods are crowding out nutritious options and pushing inflammation through the roof.
The Global Cost of Junk Food? Trillions.
This isn’t just a Canadian issue. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization recently dropped a bombshell report estimating the global hidden health costs of junk food at $8.1 trillion per year.
That’s not a typo. That’s trillion with a T. Up to 10% of GDP in some countries is being swallowed by poor diet-related illnesses.
It’s a big-picture crisis with personal, everyday consequences, from the food court to your dinner plate.
This Isn’t Just Canada’s Problem
Sure, this particular study focused on Canadians, but if you’re reading this from the U.S., the U.K., or Southeast Asia, you’re not off the hook. Ultra-processed food consumption is on the rise globally, especially in urban areas.
In the U.S. alone, more than 60% of daily calories now come from ultra-processed foods. It’s the new normal, but maybe it shouldn’t be.
Final Thought: Your Immune System Is Trying to Tell You Something
What blew my mind most about this study is the idea that our bodies don’t just quietly store the junk we eat, they fight it.
That mid-afternoon snack might feel harmless, but if it’s highly processed, your liver and immune system could be launching a defense operation behind the scenes. Not just once. Every. Single. Time.
That doesn’t mean you need to live on kale and quinoa forever. But maybe it’s time to start treating ultra-processed foods like the occasional indulgence they were meant to be, not a daily staple.