When you think of ultra-processed foods, which foods are more likely to affect our health? According to the Lancet journal in a recent NY Times article, some are worse for us than others. Many common health conditions are linked to our consumption of ultra-processed foods. In an older blog, Nestle introduced ultra-processed snacks to Brazil, which was linked to their modern obesity epidemic. Look at the average person in the USA; we see something similar. While the problems in Brazil had to do with snacks that were different from the foods normal to the Brazilian diet, ultra-processed snack foods are not good for us, are usually high in calories, and have poor nutritional content. Many other ultra-processed foods are not as bad for us but are filled with preservatives and chemicals many of us probably have difficulty pronouncing. According to the NY Times, researchers found that those who consumed the most ultra-processed foods were 17 percent more likely to develop cardiovascular disease, 23 percent more likely to develop coronary heart disease, and 9 percent more likely to have a stroke compared with the lowest consumers. In the study, of 10 ultra-processed food categories they examined, two were associated with greater risk: sugar-sweetened drinks (like soda and fruit punch) and processed meat, poultry, and fish (like bacon, hot dogs, breaded fish products, chicken sausages, and salami sandwiches). We have learned that too much sugar is bad for our overall health, and increases systemic inflammation which results in many common diseases. Removing these two risk-leaden categories caused the risks of these foods to practically disappear. Other processed foods such as breakfast cereals; sweetened and flavored yogurts, frozen yogurts, and ice cream; and savory snacks like packaged popcorn and crackers reduced cardiovascular risk. The study shows us that not all processed foods are bad for us, and some may have health benefits. According to Maya Vadiveloo, an associate professor of nutrition at the University of Rhode Island, processed meats and sweet drinks are the most harmful types of ultra-processed foods. Past research has found that breads, cereals, and yogurts are associated with no risk or reduced risk. My recommendation is that in moderation, some ultra-processed foods in our diets will not harm us if we have a good balanced diet. On the other hand, A poor diet combined with ultra-processed foods is a recipe for avoidable health problems. Read the NY Times article below Are Some Ultraprocessed Foods Worse Than Others?