The effects of ultra-processed foods (comments from Mich猫le Iskandar and St茅phanie Chevalier)
In a recent聽article,聽La Presse addressed the question of whether ultra-processed foods聽increase cases of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and allergies in children.
Studies exist, Mich猫le Iskandar, Research Associate at 平特五不中's School of Human Nutrition told La Presse鈥攂ut they are preliminary.
High consumption of ultra-processed foods is associated with ADHD and allergic conditions such as atopic dermatitis (eczema) and asthma, Iskandar said. But most studies that found this link 鈥渉ave not taken into account important factors such as education level, socioeconomic status, or lifestyle variables such as screen time, sleep quality, sedentary lifestyle or physical activity,鈥� she cautioned.
So far, research on ultra-processed foods has failed to demonstrate鈥攂eyond a doubt鈥攖hat they are problematic in and of themselves, according to School of Human Nutrition Professor St茅phanie Chevalier. Since these foods are digested quickly, people who eat a lot of them tend to eat more. So, at the very least, they are harmful because they lead to consuming too many calories, which leads to obesity.
