Scientists Say This Everyday Food Habit Could Be Taking Years Off Your Life

They’re cheap, convenient, and engineered to taste oddly delicious—but new research suggests that eating a diet high in ultra-processed food could quietly increase your risk of dying years earlier than expected. A massive international study published this week in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine analyzed data from more than 240,000 adults across eight countries and found a clear link between diets high in ultra-processed foods and premature death. This Diet Habit Could Be Slowly Killing YouThat might sound dramatic, but it tracks with what nutrition experts have been saying for years. Ultra-processed foods—packaged items loaded with additives, flavor enhancers, stabilizers, and preservatives—make up about 70% of the modern food supply. Beyond the lack of vitamins or fiber, ultra-processed foods tend to crowd out whole foods that actually support health.