Is a Processed Diet Hijacking Your Health?

NOVA is a system from Brazil that divides food based on the extent of which it is processed. All studies utilize this system.

What is processed food? They include:

1. Sugar, honey, maple syrup, butter, vegetable oils.

2. Salted nuts, cured meats or fish, canned fish, vegetables, beans and unpackaged cheeses and breads (from a bakery).

Ultra-processed Food includes:

1. Packaged bread, most breakfast cereals, bars, flavored yogurt, chocolate, ice cream, candies, cookies, pastries, frozen pizza, sausages, hot dogs, chicken nuggets, most sugary drinks, instant soups, noodles, sauces.

Unprocessed or Minimally Processed Foods

1. Fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds, eggs, meat, poultry, seafood, grains, (whole and refined), pasta, yogurt, milk, tea, coffee

As you see, things in bags, boxes, use cheap ingredients and offer convenience, tend to be processed food.

Why am I telling you this? Well, researchers followed about 200.000 health professionals who ate ultra-processed foods who were tracked for 24 to 28 years. And, what they found was these people may be less active, drink more alcohol, or smoke. While researches try to take in confounders like this, what they found was alarming.

People who eat a lot of ultra-processed foods had a higher risk of colorectal cancer, had a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. 

Next the researchers wanted to see if an ultra-processed diet led to more eating.

After 2 weeks, people on the ultra-processed diet ate 500 or more calories/day than the unprocessed eaters.

If you need help with eating better, or your health,

please contact Health Advocate Experts, our allegiance is to you!