Not All Ultra-Processed Foods Are Bad — New Science Explains Why episode artwork

EPISODE · Feb 3, 2026 · 34 MIN

Not All Ultra-Processed Foods Are Bad — New Science Explains Why

from The Exam Room by the Physicians Committee

Are all ultra-processed foods bad for your health? New science says no — and the details may surprise you. In this episode of The Exam Room Podcast, host Chuck Carroll is joined by Dr. Hana Kahleova, director of clinical research at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, to break down a comprehensive review of more than 300 studies examining ultra-processed foods, diabetes, heart disease, and mortality. The findings challenge common assumptions and reveal that not all processed foods impact health the same way. In this episode, you'll learn: - Which ultra-processed foods are most strongly linked to diabetes and heart disease - Why meat and processed meat are the primary drivers of harm - How some breads, cereals, and plant-based processed foods may actually be protective - The role fiber plays in processed foods and metabolic health - Why current dietary guidelines may be oversimplifying processed foods 📄 Download the full review paper: https://bit.ly/ProcessedFoodsReview 💙 When you support the Physicians Committee, you help power this podcast and the research behind it. Visit https://www.pcrm.org/examroommatch  ❤️ Follow Chuck's journey back to health at the Mayo Clinic: https://www.chuckcarroll.com 👍 LIKE • SUBSCRIBE • LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW If you feel like your health IQ just went up a notch, help us grow by giving this video a thumbs up and subscribing to this channel. - About Us - The Physicians Committee is dedicated to saving lives through plant-based diets and ethical and effective scientific research. We combine the clout and expertise of more than 17,000 physicians with the dedicated actions of more than 175,000 members across the United States and around the world.

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Not All Ultra-Processed Foods Are Bad — New Science Explains Why

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This episode was published on February 3, 2026.

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Are all ultra-processed foods bad for your health? New science says no — and the details may surprise you. In this episode of The Exam Room Podcast, host Chuck Carroll is joined by Dr. Hana Kahleova, director of clinical research at the Physicians...

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