This may be difficult to handle.
According to nutritionists, some processed foods aren't all that bad for you.
Various studies have shown that ultra-processed foods, such as processed red meat and carbonated drinks, can shorten your lifespan, increase your risk of developing various types of cancer, and cause 32 different health conditions. .
But some processed foods, especially those that are minimally processed, can be part of a healthy diet, writes registered dietitian Samantha Cassetti in an article for Today.com..
What is processed food?
Cassetti defined processed foods as “anything that is frozen, canned, cooked, dried, or packaged.”
She says even things like frozen blueberries are minimally processed.
Foods may also be processed to make them last longer and be safer.
The University of São Paulo in Brazil has created a chicken farming system called NOVA that describes food being divided into four categories:
Unprocessed or minimally processed foods
Unprocessed or minimally processed foods include fruits and vegetables, frozen vegetables, plain yogurt, milk, and natural meats and seafood. Pasta, rice, and flour also fall into this category.
processed ingredients
Processed cooking ingredients include oil, butter, sugar, salt, etc.
processed food
These foods are made by combining foods from the other two categories, such as canned beans and cheese.
ultra-processed foods
Ultra-processed foods are not the healthiest to consume and consist of processed meats, sugary sodas, packaged snacks, and ready-made frozen foods that are loaded with additives and refined grains.
If you can't tell if something is ultra-processed, you can look for clues in the following ingredients: high fructose corn syrup, fruit juice concentrate, soy protein isolate, whey protein, maltodextrin, xanthan gum, soy. Lecithin, carrageenan, caramel color, stevia, aspartame, sucralose, and other low-calorie sweeteners.
Which processed foods are part of a healthy diet?
Cassetti said it's healthier to eat less processed foods, such as protein pasta with chickpeas, roasted nuts and nut butters, canned tuna and other canned fish, and frozen or canned fruits and vegetables.
Old-fashioned oats, packaged green salads, whole-grain breads and cereals, and low-sugar yogurt can also be part of a healthy diet.
