Ultra-processed food is full of added sugars, salts, and preservatives to make them tasty and last longer. These are highly processed by adding artificial flavours, colours, trans fats and a host of other harmful chemicals. These food items such as canned food items, cakes, cookies, candies, frozen meats, soft drinks etc. are extremely harmful to gut health. If consumed regularly, such foods can severely deteriorate your overall health. In this article, let’s understand what are ultra-processed foods and how harmful are they to us:
What are ultra-processed foods?
Limit the intake of ultra-processed foods as they are loaded with artificial ingredients. It is essential to know which food items fall under the category of ultra-processed, these are chips, french fries, cookies, cereals, candies, frozen meat, soups, tinned or canned foods etc. These are drastically changed to make them taste better and have zero nutritional value. Loaded with chemicals, these junk foods are very low in fibre, have zero nutritional value, and lead to high-calorie intake due to the presence of added sugar and salts. Ultra-processed foods are addictive to them if consumed regularly.
The ultra-processed foods go through various stages of processing to make them appealing to you. They have ripped off their nutrition by adding preservatives to make them last longer. An array of artificial flavours is added to the food items and are deep fried to make them tastier. These junk foods are packed in fancy shiny packets to make them appealing and attract your attention.
What makes ultra-processed foods harmful?
Ultra-processed foods destroy gut health due to the high concentration of additives and preservatives in them. These food items can cause severe health issues such as Type 2 Diabetes, Cancer, and Obesity. The added sugars also have adverse effects on heart health as well. A lot of ultra-processed foods are loaded with trans fats and saturated fats. These fats raise cholesterol levels and increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The additives cause long-term health effects as they don’t have any minerals, nutrients, fibres and vitamins in them. Consumption of ultra-processed foods leads to health, nutrient deficiencies and complications. If your diet is full of ultra-processed foods and is not rich in nutrients, you can seriously compromise your health.
Obesity is one of the main concerns in today’s times which is caused by the frequent intake of junk food items. Reduce the consumption of processed food as much as possible and opt for healthier food items for your overall well-being.
In a nutshell, always make it a point to keep an eye on the label of the packaged food so that you understand what to avoid. Ultra-processed foods with their high levels of added sugars, unhealthy fats, and artificial additives, pose a significant threat to health. The consumption of junk food is connected to unhealthy weight gain, chronic diseases, leaky gut health issues, and reduced energy levels. It’s essential for everyone to understand the severe effects of these foods on health and reduce their consumption. Try and shift to whole foods that are minimally processed like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, seeds, and grains. Cooking at home should be prioritised at all costs and being mindful of your food choices can help you to have a nutrient-rich diet.
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