Why Ultra-Processed Foods Are So Bad for You

Most people recognize that a nutritious diet promotes a healthy life, but navigating the wide range of options at your grocery store isn’t always straightforward—especially when so many foods are advertised as healthy (but aren’t). A growing number of recent studies have raised health concerns about a certain type of food that most Americans eat: ultra-processed foods. One such study, published in November 2022 in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, concluded that these foods likely contributed to about 10% of deaths among people 30 to 69 years old in Brazil in 2019. Other studies—including one published in Neurology in July 2022 finding that a 10% increase in ultra-processed food consumption raises the risk of dementia—have linked the food category to severe health outcomes. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] Unlike minimally processed food or unprocessed foods—like eggs, for example, which travel from the farm to your kitchen looking pretty much the same—ultra-processed foods have been radically changed by manufacturers. By the time they hit your grocery shelf, they’ve likely been heated, pressed, and enhanced by additives designed to make them last longer, taste better, and appear more attractive, often to the detriment of your health. Here’s what you need to know about ultra-processed foods. More from TIME [video id=WnmPuQgL autostart="viewable"] What are ultra-processed foods? Ultra-processed f...
Source: TIME: Health - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Diet & Nutrition Evergreen healthscienceclimate Wellbeing Source Type: news