A new study has found that women who regularly eat ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are more likely to develop debilitating autoimmune diseases.
In the experiment, women who ate a diet rich in these foods, which are full of artificial sweeteners and preservatives, were 56% more likely to develop lupus, which leads to joint pain, rashes and fatigue. And those who regularly consumed artificially sweetened drinks and sugary foods were 45% more likely to develop the condition.
Systemic lupus erythematosus is a long-term condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue in the body.
The study, conducted by researchers at Harvard University in the United States, showed that there is no link between obesity and lupus, indicating that the synthetic ingredients in UPFs are responsible.
UPFs, such as those found in ready-to-eat meals, ice cream and some frozen foods, have previously been linked to a number of life-threatening diseases, including cancer, Alzheimer's and heart disease.
However, Professor Gunter Conley, from the University of Reading, warned that the new study may not be conclusive.
"Ultra-processed foods may be a risk factor for lupus, but there are likely other factors that are more important," he explained. "People who eat a lot of fat and sugar are more likely to have other conditions."
The study was published in the medical journal Arthritis Care And Research.