Ultra-processed foods and the corporate capture of nutrition

Yes, foods that are pre-packaged tend not to be good for you. You _should_ eat fresh foods and vegetables.

But saying that all "processed" foods are bad for you is a gross oversimplifcation that promotes ignorance about nutrition.

In the many conversations I've had about processed foods, people never seem to be talking about things like milk, yogurt, or cheese, all of which undergo _heavy_ processing.

And to provide a direct comparison, generally speaking, a glass of Soylent is going to be way more beneficial to you nutritionally than a plate of crappy iceberg lettuce with a little salad dressing on it. Although you could make the case that if you're extremely overweight, maybe the iceberg lettuce is better just for the lower calorie content.

Not all things that come in packages are created equal. Some "processed" foods are better for you than some vegetables. But like anything else, moderation is key. Your diet needs to be diverse.

Instead of telling people "processed foods bad hurr durr", teach them about the major nutrients the body needs and where you can get those. Then, consider that person's individual circumstances to offer them specific advice. Not all bodies are the same. Some people are going to need more of one food or another. Some people will tolerate certain foods less well than others.

Nutrition is complex. Indicting "processed foods", whatever that means (their definition does little to reduce ambiguity), is as egregious as the corporate capture of nutrition that they claim to be shining a light on.

Ultra-processed products now account for nearly half of the average dietary intake of some high income countries, with consumption rising rapidly in most other countries.

I've never lived for more than 1-2 months in any of these "high income countries". What does it mean to consume "ultra-processed" food? Can someone give an example how the daily dietary intake can be 50% processed foods? What do you eat for that?

Something like a snickers bar or packaged saltines maybe?

> Can someone give an example how the daily dietary intake can be 50% processed foods? What do you eat for that?

I mean, clif bars would count, for one. If you ate plain chocolate bars for 50% of your calories you'd probably overeat but... many people do!

Lunch: Sandwich made of bread, bologna, cheese, mustard. Coca-cola or chocolate milk to drink.

Dinner: TV dinner, perhaps a Lean Cuisine or Pizza rolls. Mountain Dew or Kool Aid to drink.

This was a typical day of food for me as a child and through being a teenager.

Ultra-processed foods and beverages can be defined as products with additives and industrially processed ingredients that have been technologically broken down and modified.7 They are not merely processed foods with high levels of sugar, salt, and fat but also contain ingredients and additives not commonly used in home kitchens and artisanal restaurants, such as synthetic flavours, emulsifiers, hydrogenated oils, and soy protein isolates. The role of these ingredients is often to simulate the taste, texture, or nutritional profile of minimally processed foods.