Processed Foods to Metabolic and Reproductive Harm

A recent international study published in Cell Metabolism has revealed that ultra-processed foods can cause weight gain and disrupt reproductive health, even when calorie intake is matched with minimally processed diets. The research, led by Jessica Preston at the University of Copenhagen's NNF Center for Basic Metabolic Research, investigated the impact of food processing on metabolism and sperm quality in healthy young men. Researchers studied 43 men aged 20 to 35, who spent three weeks on both ultra-processed and minimally processed diets, separated by a three-month washout period. Half of the participants consumed normal calorie amounts, while the other half received an additional 500 calories per day. Both diets were carefully matched for calories, protein, carbohydrates, and fats. The findings showed that men gained around 1 kg more fat mass on the ultra-processed diet regardless of calorie intake. Additionally, several cardiovascular health markers worsened on the ultra-processed diet. Worryingly, the study also found increased levels of phthalate cxMINP, a hormone-disrupting chemical used in plastics, in men consuming ultra-processed foods. This was linked to decreases in testosterone and follicle-stimulating hormone, essential for sperm production. “We were shocked by the extent to which ultra-processed foods disrupted body functions, even in healthy young men," said Professor Romain Barrès, senior author of the study. He emphasized the need to reevaluate nutritional guidelines to protect against chronic diseases exacerbated by ultra-processed diets. This study highlighted that the harm caused by ultra-processed foods goes beyond excess calorie consumption, pointing to the processed nature of these foods as a fundamental risk to metabolic and reproductive health.