00:00Here is a number to think about.
00:01Ultra-processed foods make up more than half of the daily calories in high-income countries,
00:07including the United States.
00:08Now, a new study in JAMA Network Open may show what that does inside the brain.
00:14Researchers looked at A7N83 adults ages 35 to 69 with no known heart disease
00:20and measured their diets and scanned their brains.
00:23People who ate the most ultra-processed food, about 45% of their daily intake,
00:28had higher odds of vascular brain injury,
00:31the kind of damage linked to stroke and cognitive decline.
00:34The lowest group got just 16% of their food that way.
00:37The top group also carried 1.7% more body fat.
00:41Now the caution.
00:42This is a snapshot, so it shows a link, not cause and effect.
00:46And there were no differences in cognitive tests yet.
00:50Experts say a good start is adding leafy greens,
00:52whole grains and lean protein instead of just cutting things out.
00:56Disclosure.
00:56This video contains stock footage and content created or enhanced using AI-assisted tools.
