JACC: Advances, March 2026 | Amier Haidar et al., University of California, Los Angeles | Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)
Each additional daily serving of ultra-processed food tracks with a measurable rise in the risk of heart attack, stroke, and cardiac death, according to a study published in JACC: Advances in March. A research team led by cardiologist Amier Haidar followed 6,814 American adults ages 45 to 84 over 12 years to examine their eating patterns and health outcomes.
The association found was dose-dependent: Each additional daily serving was linked to roughly 5% higher cardiac risk, with effects compounding over years of consumption. At the high end of consumption, around nine servings daily, the risk of a major cardiac event was 67% higher than at the low end. Nine servings may sound extreme, but they add up quickly: packaged cereal, flavored yogurt, deli meat, afternoon chips, a frozen dinner, etc. Many people underestimate how much they are actually eating.
The elevated risk held true even after researchers adjusted for calories, overall diet quality, obesity, cholesterol, and blood pressure. Ultra-processing itself, beyond what appears on a nutrition label, appears to affect the heart. Researchers point to inflammation, gut microbiome disruption, and interference with hunger and metabolism signals.
The pattern linked to the lowest risk was familiar: an emphasis on whole foods for most meals and snacks, with room for a little flexibility.
