For many years, people have been told to avoid or at least limit “processed” foods. Processed foods were thought to negatively affect health and be less nutritious than unprocessed or whole foods. While some processed foods are indeed less-than-healthy, others are actually good for us. And to add to the confusion, there are now “ultra-processed” foods to contend with. What are they and how do they affect our health? Learn more about the differences between processed and ultra-processed foods.
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What are processed foods?
The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) defines processed foods as any raw agricultural commodities that have been washed, cleaned, milled, cut, chopped, heated, pasteurized, etc. or basically, changed from their natural state.
While we tend to view processed foods as being “bad,” you might be interested to know that a head of broccoli that is cut into florets, for example, is considered to be a processed food. (And we know that there is nothing unhealthy about broccoli florets!).
On the other hand, additional ingredients added to a food also makes that food processed. So, adding salt, fat, or sugar, for example, turns a food into a processed food. A jarred spaghetti sauce that has added salt and sugar is processed and, in this case, that spaghetti sauce may not be the healthiest choice because of this. Canned fruit in heavy syrup (which is high in sugar) is another example of a less-than-healthy processed food.
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics describes a ranking of processed foods from minimally to heavily processed:
- Minimally processed: e.g., bagged spinach, fresh blueberries, roasted nuts, whole-grain bread, fortified milk
- Foods processed at their peak to lock in nutritional quality and freshness: e.g., canned tomatoes, canned tuna, frozen vegetables
- Foods with ingredients (salt, sugar, oils, spices, preservatives) added for flavor and texture: e.g., salad dressing, sweetened yogurt, cake mixes
- Ready-to-eat foods: e.g., crackers, granola, deli meats, which are more heavily processed
- Heavily processed: e.g., frozen pizza, frozen dinners, fast foods
What are ultra-processed foods?
Foods that are heavily processed and have many added ingredients can be considered “ultra-processed.” NOVA, which is a food classification system used for nutrition and public health research, policy, and action defines ultra-processed foods as “snacks, drinks, ready meals and many other products created mostly or entirely from substances extracted from foods or derived from food constituents with little if any intact food.” These foods often contain flavors, colors, and other additives that imitate or intensify the “sensory qualities of foods or culinary preparations made from foods.”
Ultra-processed foods, which are highly processed, are appealing to many people because they taste good, are cheap (or at least, less expensive), and are convenient. An ultra-processed food likely has added salt or sodium, sugar, and/or fat, as well as artificial colors, flavors, and/or stabilizers. It’s also likely to contain a lot of refined carbohydrate and saturated fat, and calories.
Examples of ultra-processed foods are:
- Fast foods
- Soft drinks
- Packaged cookies
- Potato chips
- Candy
- Mashed potato flakes
- White bread
- Energy drinks
- Sweetened breakfast cereals
- Baking mixes
- Powdered and packaged instant soups
- Margarine
- Chicken nuggets
Are ultra-processed foods unhealthy?
While ultra-processed foods are convenient and less expensive than whole or less-refined foods, research indicates that these foods may be harmful to our health. For example, ultra-processed foods have been linked with weight gain. In a small study published in Cell Metabolism in 2019, 20 adults staying at a medical facility were given an ultra-processed diet for 14 days and an unprocessed diet for 14 days. They could eat as little or as much food as they wanted. When following the ultra-processed diet, the participants consumed about 500 more calories per day compared to the unprocessed diet, and the extra calories came from carbohydrate and fat. Also, the participants gained about two pounds on this diet, whereas they lost two pounds on the unprocessed diet.
A high intake of ultra-processed foods is associated with other health issues, such as:
- High blood pressure
- Cancer
- An increase in death
Eating ultra-processed foods is also linked with impaired cognition in older adults, according to a study in the European Journal of Nutrition, published July 1, 2022. In this study, cognitive performance was assessed in 3,632 participants ages 60 and older from the National Health and Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-14. Ultra-processed food intake was significantly associated with worse performance in a test called Animal Fluency in older adults without pre-existing diseases, possibly as a result of metabolic changes that lead to inflammation. The authors concluded that “decreasing UPF (ultra-processed food) consumption may be a way to improve impaired cognition among older adults.”
How do ultra-processed foods impact diabetes?
A study published online in December 2019 by JAMA Internal Medicine looked at results from a questionnaire given to more than 100,000 people who did not have diabetes over six years. The researchers discovered that those who ate the most ultra-processed foods (about 22% of their diet) had a higher risk of developing diabetes (15%) compared with people who at the least amount of ultra-processed foods.
The researchers also noted that a higher ultra-processed food intake was higher in the following people:
- Those who were overweight or obese
- Those who smoked
- Less active people
- Those who ate more red meat and processed meats, and less fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
Ultra-processed foods generally contain pro-inflammatory ingredients, such as refined carbohydrates and unhealthy fats. These ingredients don’t mesh well with certain conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease or diverticular disease; plus, the refined carbohydrate and inadequate fiber make these foods more likely to impact blood sugars. In other words, eating ultra-processed foods (especially those that are high in carbohydrate) may cause blood sugars to spike higher compared to less processed foods.
Should you not eat processed foods of any kind?
In short, no. Many healthy, nutritious foods are processed — examples are milk, yogurt, whole-grain bread, meat, eggs, and beans. Plus, without processing, foods would spoil much more quickly.
Focus, instead, on limiting your intake of those ultra-processed foods that are mentioned above. These foods have added sodium, sugar, and fats (often the unhealthy kind), as well as a laundry list of many different additives and preservatives. And whenever you can, choose foods in their least-processed form. That means, for example, reaching for an apple rather than a glass of apple juice or a slice of apple pie.
As much as possible, plan meals around fresh or frozen lean-protein foods (lean meat, poultry or seafood), whole grains, and fresh or frozen vegetables and fruit. Aim to limit foods with added sugars and salt. Reading the Nutrition Facts label, as well as the ingredient lists on a food package or container, can help you make healthy choices.
Want to learn more about eating well? Read “Strategies for Healthy Eating,” “Improving Your Recipes: One Step at a Time,” and “Easy Ways to Eat Better.”
