Minimally Processed Eating vs. Ultra

I came across a recent article that was talking about a recent study in Nature Medicine. What they saw was people who ate minimally processed diets vs. ultra processed lost twice as much weight. This even took in account if the ultra-processed was “healthy”.  Be careful with items that are touted as healthy packaged items. Often it is still just highly processed junk.  Some examples of these kinds of things are protein powders, protein bars, and frozen ready-made meals.  Go back to the outer rim of the grocery store and whole foods in their natural form.

Processed items are altered from normal and have added ingredients. This includes your protein powders and bars, crackers, and frozen dinners.

Minimally processed have a slight change but keep most of their natural qualities. Think of hummus, frozen veggies, cheese, and yogurt.

Moderately processed have more changes and more added ingredients. We are talking about cereals, crackers, microwave dinners.

Ultra processed foods are the WORST! They are heavily processed/changed and contain a long list of ingredients and chemicals. What makes this category?  Things like sugary drinks, candies, fast food, packaged cakes/cookies, breads, ice creams…. The list could go on forever.

Why are these ultra-processed so bad?  Mainly all those harmful chemicals, sugars, damaging by products your body makes after you consume them lead to chronic inflammation day after day in your body. This is the root of most diseases like diabetes, heart disease, colon cancer, obesity, and many more.  Read for the same old message? Eat foods you recognize in the natural form. They have one ingredient. Eat plants and stay healthy!