High Ultraprocessed Food Intake Linked to Lower DNA Methylation

Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health

Briana Mercola

Health & Fitness, Alternative Health

4.6 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 6 January 2026

⏱️ 8 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Ultraprocessed foods alter DNA methylation patterns, silencing protective genes and activating harmful ones, creating cellular dysfunction that begins before visible health problems appear in both adults and children
A study of 30 adult women revealed those consuming 45% of their daily calories as ultraprocessed foods showed hypomethylation in 80 genome regions, affecting genes linked to fat storage, insulin sensitivity, and cancer progression
Research on 3,152 European children found that ultraprocessed food consumption caused consistent DNA methylation changes affecting thyroid function, liver health, DNA repair, and stress-response genes
Methylation changes occur even in healthy-weight individuals, demonstrating that genetic damage accumulates years before traditional metabolic markers like blood sugar, cholesterol, or body fat show problems
Breaking ultraprocessed food addiction requires restocking your pantry with whole foods, adding protein and fiber to meals, reading ingredient labels carefully, and building supportive communities focused on healthier eating

Transcript

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0:00.0	Have you considered that the snacks you choose today might rewrite how your genes behave for years to come?
0:06.0	Welcome to Dr. Mercola's cellular wisdom. Stay informed with quick, easy-to-listen summaries of our latest articles, perfect for when you're on the go.
0:14.0	No reading required. Subscribe for free at Mercola.com for the latest health insights.
0:19.0	Hello and welcome to Dr. Mercola's cellular wisdom.
0:22.6	I'm Ethan Foster.
0:23.6	And we're examining new research showing how ultra-processed foods reshape DNA methylation,
0:29.6	the chemical marks that help turn your genes on and off.
0:33.6	You'll hear what changes show up in adults and children and what you can do now to protect genetic stability.
0:39.5	I'm Alara Sky. We'll keep this direct and practical.
0:44.2	Two recent studies track how high intake of ultra-processed foods
0:47.6	alters methylation patterns tied to metabolism, inflammation, hormone balance, and cellular repair, often long before any lab
0:56.7	panel or waistline changes reveal a problem.
1:00.8	A pilot study from Brazil analyzed 30 women divided by ultra-processed intake, about 14% of daily
1:07.7	calories in one group, and 45% in the other. Blood analysis showed 80 genome
1:13.3	regions with distinct methylation differences in the higher intake group, most showing
1:18.2	hypomethalation, which loosens normal off signals and makes certain genes easier to activate.
1:23.7	Participants were 26 to 36 years old with an average BMI of 24.7, and there were no significant
1:30.3	differences in total body fat, waste size, or blood sugar between groups.
1:35.3	The key point is that methylation shifts appeared even when standard metabolic markers
1:40.3	still looked normal.
1:42.3	Several gene regions stood out. Changes around Reepin 1, AS1, and F-O-X-P-1-1 were notable, linking ultra-processed intake to
1:52.2	pathways for fat storage, insulin sensitivity, immune activity, and cancer progression.
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