A study from National Cancer Institute has determined that eating large amounts of ultra-processed foods can impact one's long-term health.

This includes convenient, ready-to-eat items found in supermarkets or purchased from a fast-food restaurant.

Researchers tracked over 500,000 people for almost 30 years and discovered eating high levels of ultra-processed can shorten a person's lifespan by 14 to 15%.

The main culprits were soda and sugary beverages, along with processed meats including bacon, sausages and deli meats.

Another study has found that consuming ultra-processed foods doubled between the 1980s to 2018. Researchers estimate this food group makes up as much as 60% of the average American diet.

"They're leading to inflammation, they're leading to more fat storage causing high amounts of sodium, which is leading to elevated blood pressure, which also increases your risk of stroke. Artificial ingredients have also been linked to cancer, specifically processed meats have been considered a carcinogen," says Julia Zumpano, a registered dietitian and nutritionist.

Zumpano says choosing single ingredient food will make a significant difference in long-term health.

"Like an apple grape, orange cucumber, potato, chicken, those one-ingredient foods – those are the foods we really want to focus on," she says.

Zumpano says if you do have a craving for junk food, it's best to have it occasionally.