Are those slices of deli meat and morning frosted flakes digging an early grave for you? Sounds dramatic, we know, but a recent study begs us to ponder this somber question.

Researchers had their magnifying glasses (figuratively speaking) on roughly 75,000 women and 40,000 men for over thirty years. These people were living on the wild side; braving life with no cancer, heart disease, or diabetes, aged 40 or more. So what did these folks do with their time? Amongst other things, they filled questionnaires on their eating habits every couple of years. Fast forward to three decades later, around 48,193 faced the grim reaper.

Interestingly, fans of ultra-processed foods-think your packaged snacks, sodas, sausages, and candy bars-were 4% more likely to be tweeting RIPs than those who barely invited these items on their dinner plates. The study, featured in The BMJ, suggests that the added sugar, unhealthy fats, and salt present in these titbits might be the culprits here.

But wait, what are these so-called ultra-processed items? In essence, they are those store-bought products that have been processed, packaged, and processed some more. Their ingredients are mostly substances coined in labs from items like oil, fats, sugars, starches, and proteins. There's often little relation to actual natural plant or animal sources-think corn-adjacent chips versus actual corn in the grocery's produce aisle.

But before you ban all ultra-processed foods from your kitchen cabinets, let's refine the details a bit. The bygone risers in the study were mostly fans of ultra-processed meat, poultry, and seafood in ready-to-eat forms as well as foods and sodas sweetened with sugars or artificial sweeteners. These individuals faced the risk of an early exit 13% and 9% higher, respectively.

What's the takeaway? While it's somewhat complicated to calculate how many birthdays consuming ultra-processed foods might rob you of, sensible living involves limiting their consumption. Focus on the quality of your food and consider what nutrients they offer before making a choice. Remember the old adage – you are what you eat. So, strive to have your plate filled with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, and lean proteins.