26/11/2025
What you need to know about ULTRA PROCESSED FOODS:
How to tell if a food is Ultra processed !
# If an item has more than 5 ingredients or if it has ingredients that you don't find in a kitchen usually - like emulsifiers,colourings , flavour enhancers, bulking agents ,gels, then it's Ultra processed.
Food is classified into 4 categories :
#1- Processed culinary ingredients - Include sugar, honey ,maple syrup, vegetable oil, butter and vinegar
#2- Unprocessed or Minimally processed - Fruits , vegetables,beans, nuts,seeds ,eggs ,meat ,poultry,pasta,yogurt ( plain)
#3- Processed foods - Salted nuts , Cured meat, Canned veggies , fish, cheese, bread etc
#4- Ultra processed foods - Potato chips,soft drinks ,instant noodles and candy bars
HOW DO THEY INCREASE YOUR DISEASE RISK :
In many studies there was a significant link between UPF consumption and one or more chronic disease
Type 2 DM- 25%
Depression -23%
Obesity -21%
Heart disease -20%
Ultra processed foods may be convenient,but they are not worthy compromising our health.Being aware of the ingredients,making informed choices and opting for whole foods whenever possible,we can take control.
As the saying goes," You are what you eat" - let's choose wisely and eat to thrive, not to survive .
Dr Sheira Sundarrajan
Consultant- Naturopathy and Yoga
094962 60550