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> The more processed a food is the more opportunities it had to potentially be contaminated Huh. You know, I've heard for a long time "avoid processed foods",

> The more processed a food is the more opportunities it had to potentially be contaminated Huh. You know, I've heard for a long time "avoid processed foods", but this is the first time I've seen a "why" for that. Makes sense! Thank you

abdullahkhalids 3y ago
The reason for avoiding ultra-processed foods is that they are pretty bad for your health. This report [1] by the UN food agency is a good resource. A short paragraph from the conclusion: > the results from the studies on health outcomes show plausible, significant and graded associations between the dietary share of ultra-processed foods and the occurrence or incidence of several non-communicable diseases, including obesity and obesity-related outcomes, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, breast and all cancers, depression, gastrointestinal disorders, frailty in the elderly, and also premature mortality. [1] https://www.fao.org/3/ca5644en/CA5644EN.pdf https://www.fao.org/3/ca5644en/CA5644EN.pdf
ikesau 3y ago
I can find evidence to suggest that consuming processed foods increases microplastic exposure[1], but I don't think that's the main reason public health officials advise against eating processed foods. It's a different level of cause and effect, but the main reason I've read is that people consume a higher amount of calories in processed food to attain the same level of satiety attained from non-processed foods. This is in large part due to added sugar and salt, as well as the removal of fibre and other nutrients during the refinement process.[2] [1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412019317416?via%3Dihub https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016041201... [2] https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/what-are-ultra-processed-foods-and-are-they-bad-for-our-health-2020010918605 https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/what-are-ultra-processed...

abdullahkhalids 3y ago

The reason for avoiding ultra-processed foods is that they are pretty bad for your health. This report [1] by the UN food agency is a good resource. A short paragraph from the conclusion: > the results from the studies on health outcomes show plausible, significant and graded associations between the dietary share of ultra-processed foods and the occurrence or incidence of several non-communicable diseases, including obesity and obesity-related outcomes, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, breast and all cancers, depression, gastrointestinal disorders, frailty in the elderly, and also premature mortality. [1] https://www.fao.org/3/ca5644en/CA5644EN.pdf https://www.fao.org/3/ca5644en/CA5644EN.pdf

ikesau 3y ago

I can find evidence to suggest that consuming processed foods increases microplastic exposure[1], but I don't think that's the main reason public health officials advise against eating processed foods. It's a different level of cause and effect, but the main reason I've read is that people consume a higher amount of calories in processed food to attain the same level of satiety attained from non-processed foods. This is in large part due to added sugar and salt, as well as the removal of fibre and other nutrients during the refinement process.[2] [1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412019317416?via%3Dihub https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016041201... [2] https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/what-are-ultra-processed-foods-and-are-they-bad-for-our-health-2020010918605 https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/what-are-ultra-processed...