READY meals are a mainstay of the British diet. From the trusty chicken kieve to a microwave korma - we Brits love cheap and convenient meals. 2 Many ready meals are classified as ultra-processed foods.
Credit: Getty 2 Previous research has linked UPFs to 32 illnesses But, as the adage goes, there’s no such thing as a free lunch. In fact, even the odd ready meal can raise the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by up to a sixth, scientists warn. The disease, caused by high blood sugar, is often known as a silent killer because it damages the nerve cells that control pain, leaving people unaware they have it.
However, the researchers have also found that the risk can be lowered by consuming different processed foods. Read more on UPFs FOOD WARS The 2 'most dangerous' UPFs that raise heart attack & stroke risk & 8 that don't LOAD OF JUNK Young people get whopping 66% of daily calories from ultra-processed foods Scientists from London and Cambridge found that for every 10 per cent increase in the amount of ultra-processed foods (UPF) in a person's diet the risk of type 2 diabetes increased by 17 per cent. Many ready meals are classified as ultra-processed foods.
This is because they are packed with added sugar, salt, fat, and preservatives, and have been linked to 32 diseases including obesity, heart disease, bowel cancer and type 2 diabetes. But the risk of developing diabetes appeared to be lowered by consuming 'less-processed' foods. Most read in Health PIZZA DANGER Urgent D.