They have been called “poison”, “addictive” and “junk”, but however you describe ultra-processed foods (UPFs), it is clear they are the nutritional bogeyman du jour. That fear is reasonable, given their consumption has been linked to a dizzying array of health effects, from obesity and type 2 diabetes, to anxiety and depression.
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Even so, we think all-out UPF panic needs to give way to a more nuanced conversation. It is a mistake to paint flavoured yogurt and wholegrain bread with the same scaremongering brush as cakes and sugary cereal. Just because a food is ultra-processed doesn’t mean it is unhealthy.
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Some UPFs are already considered healthy by the FDA’s standard (again, think wholegrain bread or yogurt). … Many of us also rely on the likes of UPF pasta sauces, hummus, frozen dinners, canned beans, bouillons and breads, which can be an easy and affordable part of a healthy diet. That is why being specific about which UPFs are most likely to cause harm is important.
