Avoiding Ultra-Processed Foods
Mar 21, 2023
According to Harvard Health, food processing often involves adding ingredients like sugar, salt, fat, artificial colors, preservatives, flavors, and/or stabilizers, so these processed products are "made mostly from substances extracted from foods, such as fats, starches, added sugars, and hydrogenated fats."
Below is a list of the 15 ultra-processed foods that you want to avoid. These foods can be found as high-glycemic foods and research shows that they are the worst offenders.
- Processed meats (sausages, hot dogs and deli meats)
- Sugary breakfast cereals
- Sodas and energy drinks
- Frozen pizzas
- Mashed potato flakes
- Packaged cookies
- Blended coffee drinks and flavored creamers
- French fries
- Pretzels
- Baked goods
- Candies
- Instant noodles
- Flavored chips and cheese puffs
- Processed cheese sticks
- Barbecue sauce
It's understandable that life gets busy and sometimes you want quick, pre-packaged foods that are healthier than the above ultra-processed foods. To help, researchers at Northeastern University have created an online tool that rates foods within the same product category on a scale from 1-100 from least processed to ultra-processed. Some foods may surprise you.
As much as possible, stick to unprocessed foods—like those found in the produce section—or foods that are minimally processed, such as nuts or legumes, to promote maximum health.
Remember to...Take Care of You!
