Ultra-Processed Food

Auto-translated from the original Russian post.

Why do some food products in stores contain 50 ingredients? A big reason is the long list of additives: preservatives, emulsifiers, colorings, flavorings, sweeteners, and more.

Ultra-processed foods are designed to be as tasty and rewarding as possible, which can encourage overconsumption and habit-forming eating. They often go through industrial processes such as molding, extrusion, hydrogenation, or frying.

Research published in the British Medical Journal links high consumption of ultra-processed foods with:

• higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease
• higher risk of all-cause mortality
• obesity
• type 2 diabetes
• anxiety and depression
• sleep problems
• metabolic disorders

This kind of food can also contribute to deficiencies in micronutrients such as iron, minerals, and vitamins.

What can you do?

Before buying, check the ingredient list and the total number of ingredients. Try to choose whole foods and minimally processed foods more often.