Every time you reach for a coke, you could be losing 12 minutes of your life, scientists have claimed. The worrying statistics were found in a study conducted by the University of Michigan which delved into just how much time certain processed foods take from your life

Ultra-processed foods – which contain ingredients such as artificial colours and flavours, preservatives and emulsifiers – can be dangerous if not eaten in moderation. And some favourites could end up costing you minutes of your life. A hot dog could shave off 36 minutes and if you drink it with a coke, that’s another 12 minutes gone. 

Breakfast sandwiches and eggs were also found to take off 13 minutes from someone’s life, and cheeseburgers take off nine. The research wasn’t all bad news, though, as scientists also found eating certain types of fish could give you 28 more minutes of life.

Study lead Dr Olivier Jolliet said: ‘The urgency of dietary changes to improve human health is clear. Our findings demonstrate that small, targeted substitutions offer a feasible and powerful strategy to achieve significant health and environmental benefits without requiring dramatic dietary shifts.’

Certain types of fish can lengthen your life by 32 minutes and one study previously found eating cheeses like cheddar and brie could help boost life expectancy and prevent liver cancer. Many doctors have suggested cutting out ultra-processed foods to be healthier.

Previously, the British Medical Journal (BMJ) found that high consumption of UPFs is associated with a 50% increased risk of cardiovascular disease-related death, a 48-53% higher risk of mental health issues including anxiety, and a 12% greater risk of type 2 diabetes. Higher UFP intake was also linked to a 21% greater risk of death (from any cause), obesity, a 40-66% greater risk of heart disease, sleep problems, and a 22% higher chance of depression. 

Other related health conditions include asthma, high cholesterol, and gastrointestinal issues. Of course, UFPs are okay to eat in moderation, but doctors still recommend healthier foods such as fruits, healthy carbs, and vegetables.

Last August, Roy Morgan research revealed that 46% of employed Australians worked from home at least some of the time paid or unpaid, while the remaining 54% worked entirely in-person.
The Productivity Commission also weighed into the debate, saying it wasn’t clear if new laws were needed in its submission to the inquiry.  

“Many Australian employers and workers have found a hybrid ‘sweet spot’ when it comes to working from home,” the Productivity Commission submission said.   

“The need for a legislated right to request to work from home is therefore not clear.”