A recent study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition examines the effects of consuming ultra-processed foods (UPF) and telomere length, which is a “marker of biological age.”

The objectives of the research was to “evaluate the association between UPF consumption and the risk of having short telomeres in an elderly population.” Shorter telomere length is often associated with accelerated aging and can affect organ and bone health.

The researchers used a cross-sectional study of over 800 participants between the ages of 57 and 91. Ultimately they found that the participants who had the highest rates of UPF consumption were almost twice as likely to have shorter telomeres.

Although more research is needed in this area, the results of this study reveal a connection between diet and overall health, especially important for the older population.

Read more about this study here.

Source: https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article-abstract/111/6/1259/5824715?redirectedFrom=fulltext