How Does Processed Food Affect Hormone Levels

Processed food, unfortunately, already has a dominant place and is increasingly represented in everyone’s diet. It is an easy substitute for a nutritious meal and usually compensates for the lack of time and energy that occurs due to daily responsibilities, work, etc. But processed or so-called “fast” food has a strong impact on our health, especially on hormones, something we will talk about below.

What is processed and highly processed food?

Processed food means any type of food or food item that undergoes some kind of processing – physical or chemical. Most often, these are the processes of washing, chopping, smoking, heat treatments (pasteurization, freezing, baking), fermentation, or the addition of certain preservatives.

Such treatments are nothing new and people have been using them for thousands of years. They are a great way to protect food from spoilage and are often used for easier transport and longer storage.

In some cases (such as freezing and fermentation) the nutritional composition of the food changes very little, and sometimes even improves and preserves it.

But the problem arises with highly processed food, that is, food that is full of sugar, salt, fat, and preservatives. This type of food requires very little or no preparation at all, that is, it is immediately suitable for consumption. This type of food includes:

• Confectionery products (chocolates, bonbons, smokies, sweets, etc.)
• Fried products – eg. the chips
• Processed meat products
• Ice creams, cakes, and similar sweet products
• Soft drinks
• A range of dairy products with added sugar

How does processed food affect hormone levels?

Fast and processed food can significantly disrupt the hormonal balance due to the high content of refined sugars, salt, unhealthy fats, and artificial additives.

Frequent consumption of these foods leads to so-called “peaks” of blood sugar, causing increased secretion of insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. Chronic insulin spikes can contribute to insulin resistance, a condition that can progress to type 2 diabetes.

Additionally, highly processed foods are high in trans fats, which promote inflammation and inhibit the production of anti-inflammatory compounds.

These foods often lack essential nutrients such as fiber, vitamins, and minerals, which are key to hormone synthesis and regulation. Such food is usually high-calorie, contributing to weight gain – another factor that can significantly contribute to hormonal imbalance.

It is additionally problematic that the high content of calories, fat, and sugars in these foods is also associated with an elevated level of stored fat, especially in the abdominal region.

This type of adipose tissue (visceral) can create harmful compounds, primarily cytokines that increase the chances of heart disease but can also reduce the body’s sensitivity to insulin, disrupting the overall hormonal balance.

All of this points to the importance of limiting such foods in daily use, and the focus should be more on fresh, minimally processed foods that promote overall health, including healthy hormone balance.