The most common Crohn’s-culprit

Here’s a shocker…

A new study shows that “a diet high in ultra-processed foods (UPFs) increases the risk for clinical relapse in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) who are in remission.”

But honestly, is anyone surprised?

Let’s talk about it…

An insanely heightened risk

I’ve frequently reported on the health dangers of UPFs.

These addictive, hyperpalatable foods are linked to everything from dementia and stroke… to obesity, inflammatory bowel disease (like CD), and more.

Even so, let’s look at the results from a single-center, prospective cohort study.

Researchers followed 111 patients with CD every three months until a relapse occurred, up to one year.

Researchers grouped UPFs into subgroups:

• Group 1: Bread, pastries, starch
• Group 2: Oils and spreads
• Group 3: Ultra-processed meats
• Group 4: Sweet products and desserts
• Group 5: Ultra-processed beverages

Items in group 1 were the most likely to trigger a flare. (No surprise there!)

But ultimately, those in the high-intake group, no matter what variety they were consuming, were 386 to 432 percent more likely to experience a relapse in CD!

Of course, these results stem from previous research that found an association between consuming UPFs and a 70 percent heightened risk for developing CD in the first place.

Plus, a longitudinal study found that the Standard American Diet (SAD), which is notoriously high in UPFs, will increase your risk of a relapse in CD symptoms. But apparently, that wasn’t enough to convince the powers-that-be.

After all, they have prescription medications for CD, so why would they bother discussing lifestyle interventions?

Make better choices

To me, these results absolutely matter. And they should to you, too.

UPFs are not real foods—they’re packed with chemicals, additives, emulsifiers, and more. Why would you want to put that stuff in your body!?

Plus, we already know UPFs wreak havoc on your gut health. And of course an imbalanced gut will trigger inflammatory conditions, like CD. (Read more here.)

I get it—a little treat every now and then, especially during the holidays, is tempting.

But for most people? It’s something every single day, if not at every meal.

That’s not a good look. What is a good look? For us to demand that food manufacturers offer more healthy products. Or, here’s a novel thought…

Maybe we’ll finally all learn to buy real food and enjoy homecooked meals.

P.S. Did you know I have a cooking show called Cooking with Dr. Fred? If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to my YouTube Channel (“The Dr. Fred Show”) so you never miss an episode. Click here!

Source:

“Ultraprocessed Foods Associated With Relapse Risk in Crohn’s Disease.” Medscape, 10/17/2024. (medscape.com/viewarticle/ultraprocessed-foods-associated-relapse-risk-crohns-disease-2024a1000iyl)