Ultra-Processed Foods: How Much is Too Much?

Walk into any supermarket today, and more than half of what you see is industrially formulated food.In this episode, I break down what ultra-processed foods really are, why researchers are concerned, and how much is too much for long-term health. You will learn about the NOVA classification system and some conditions that may arise from excessive consumption of ultra-processed foods, including the impact on mental health.This episode is evidence-based, balanced, and designed to help you make informed, not fearful, decisions.***You can find the full list of researched references and further readings below.Main Discussion Pointso   What does the NOVA classification system mean?o   How ultra-processed foods affect appetite and some chronic diseases.o   Practical ways to reduce ultra-processed foods without extreme dietingHelpful Episodes:Is Everything Inflammation? What Science Says!Wellness Trends that Seem Healthy but Often Aren'tStay in the Know: *** Subscribe to the blog's newsletter to stay informed and enjoy additional health and wellness topics.Things you can do right now to improve your health Resources/Freebies:1.     Helpful Blog Posts/Videos:The Mediterranean Diet – Benefits, Foods and How to Follow It!Video: Why Red Dye No.3 Was Banned?Video: Are Seed Oils Toxic?     2.   Almonds and Olivez Wellness BlogFor more Health and Wellness tips, subscribe to the Social-Ize Your Health ™   Podcast on Spotify and Apple or wherever you listen to podcasts. Leave a review and share it with someone who enjoys real conversations about health.References and Further ReadingsBaraldi LG, et al. (2018). BMJ Open 8, e020574. Beslay M, Srour B, Me´jean C, Allès B, Fiolet T, Debras C, et al. (2020).  https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. pmed.1003256. Hall, K. D., et al. (2019). Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain. Cell Metabolism, 30(1), 67-77.e3. Monteiro CA, Cannon G, Moubarac JC, Levy RB, Louzada MLC, Jaime PC. The UN Decade of Nutrition, the NOVA food classification and the trouble with ultra-processing. Public Health Nutr. 2018 Jan;21(1):5-17.  Moubarac et al. (2017). Appetite 108, 512–520. Samuthpongtorn C, Nguyen LH, Okereke OI, et al. Consumption of Ultraprocessed Food and Risk of Depression. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(9):e2334770. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.34770 The BMJ Journal - Research: Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analyses.Thanks for listening! Have a great day!