A British study has found that vegetarians consume more ultra-processed foods than meat-eaters.
Although vegetarian diets are rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, these individuals consume large amounts of ultra-processed foods in the form of chocolates, ready meals, frozen pizzas, and sodas.
A team of experts led by Imperial College London conducted a survey of nearly 200,000 British citizens, trying to understand their daily consumption of ultra-processed foods and their regular diets.
The study revealed that ultra-processed foods made up a fifth of all participants’ diets, but vegetarians were found to rely more on these foods.
Overall, researchers discovered that vegetarians consume more ultra-processed foods than meat-eaters. They noted that the study results showed an increase in the consumption of plant-based milks and alternative meats among vegetarians, which is concerning.
