08/27/2025
📢Nutrition Spotlight: Ideal Protein vs. Ultra-Processed Foods Explained
Role in Overall Diet
UPFs: Common in the “SAD” – Standard American Diet, which lacks balance and nutrients.
IP: Part of a structured, nutrient-dense plan, with whole foods like lean proteins and vegetables.
Why This Matters
UPFs often replace healthier options, and their addictive nature can lead to overeating and low satisfaction, making it difficult to control calorie intake. Not surprisingly, studies have linked them to health problems like obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. Let’s be clear: These studies were not performed with Ideal Protein foods! The foods in these studies are mostly fast food and junk food!
Not All Processed Foods Are Equal
The term processed food is often misunderstood. Processing simply refers to any post-harvest steps that enhance a food’s usability, texture, shelf life, or nutritional stability. For example, flash-frozen green beans are technically processed.
Ideal Protein foods, while also processed to some degree, are not ultra-processed by definition or intent. They are part of a guided protocol, supervised by health professionals, which ensures that their use is strategic and temporary—not habitual or mindless.
Final Thoughts
While both come in packages, IP and UPFs are fundamentally different in their intent, quality, and metabolic impact. Understanding this helps clients focus on what matters most - achieving results through a science-based protocol and supportive coaching!