Food processing has proved essential for our survival, but what are Ultra-Processed Foods and why are researchers worried that we might be consuming too much of them?

‘Ultra-processed foods’ is a term coined by the NOVA food classification system. This system categorises food into four groups, with ultra-processed foods (UPFs) taking the final spot.

Many epidemiological studies- so studies looking at large populations- showed associations between high consumption of UPF and ill health – not just obesity, but also cardiovascular disease, cancer, depression and anxiety, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, fatty liver disease, kidney disease, type 2 diabetes and all-cause mortality.
The big breakthrough came in 2019, when a team of researchers at the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) ran a randomised-controlled trial – the gold standard of evidence gathering which included 20 participants and they showed how UPFS led people to overeat.

Exactly how Ultra-processed foods might cause ill health is still being untangled however a few potential explanations are being brought forward.

Resources:
https://doi.org/10.3390%2Ffoods9081056
   • History of Food 3/5: Drying, Salting ...  
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Ultra-processed People by Chris Van Tulleken:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ultra-Proces...


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