Ultra-processed foods: are they all bad?

Are all ultra-processed foods bad for us?

A study found that higher consumption of typical 'ultra-processed' foods (think ready meals, packaged snacks, fizzy drinks) is strongly associated with multiple indicators of obesity (Rauber et al., 2021). This is just one bit of research – among many – which talks about the negative effects these foods could have on our health if over-consumed.

There are various reasons why they can be damaging for our health:

• They typically contain high levels of saturated fat, salt and sugar
• They are often low in fibre, and can affect our gut functions
• Important point - by consuming lots of ultra-processed foods, we have less room for more nutritious 'whole' foods in our diets.

That said, some foods which fall into the UPF category may contain some beneficial nutrients – not all can be classified as the same in terms of health outcomes. One example is the nation's favourite baked beans, which provide fibre and plant protein. This is why there is still a big debate over whether we should be saying 'all UPFs are bad for us'.

How to move away from ultra-processed foods

Although the subject of UPFs and health is still being hotly debated, at Nutracheck we know that opting for whole, minimally processed foods more often is the way to go for our health and waistlines. Picking up on the point above, the more healthy, natural foods we pack into our diets, the less room there is for us for foods that are less nutritious. Take these steps to reduce UPFs in your diet:

Home cooking

By taking control over what goes into your meals, you can choose nutrient-rich ingredients. A large UK-based study found that more frequent home-cooked meals are linked with people having a greater chance of a healthy BMI and body fat percentage, as well as a higher intake of fruit and veg (Mills et al., 2017). It's a no-brainer!

Choose wholegrain

Swapping refined carbohydrates to wholegrain alternatives can keep you fuller for longer, curbing your cravings for processed snacks. Research also shows that wholegrains can help protect against diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.

Drink more water

Swap sugary drinks and fruit juice for good old water, and you’ll be cutting back on your ultra-processed daily intake hugely – as well as receiving the numerous benefits that upping your water intake can have, like maintaining healthy blood pressure and even supporting weight loss efforts.