31/07/2024
Anytime you alter a food from its original state it is considered processed. For example yogurt, hummus, nut butters, tomato sauce, cheese, any canned food, etc. These are all processed while providing great nutritional value. Now, just because a food does not bring as much nutritional value does not mean it will harm you.
You cannot take one food in isolation and let it determine whether or not it is healthy, you have to look at the bigger picture and what your diet mainly consist of. All food is processed to some extent, unless youâre growing and picking it out of your garden yourself.Â
Fearing and/or eliminating processed foods altogether for the sake of it simply increases risk of disorder eating and binging on them later
Focusing on minimally processed foods, and the main principles of a healthy dietary pattern which is largely plant based like fruit veg nuts seeds and legumes, beans pulses but also oily fish, lean proteins, eggs, delicious high protein quality yoghurt and cheese.
Limiting the ultra processed foods that have a lot of omega 6, But of course, I donât want people being so scared of UPS in their diet, as a general public health recommendation if you were to reduce your consumption of UPS across the board youâd probably see a net improvement in health, but does that mean that every UPS is bad? Of course not! You need to be a bit more critical about these recommendations because for example whey protein; fibre bars, nutrition drinks are all UPS.
On average theyâre less satiating and more tasty than minimally processed foods so that combination makes it very easy to over consume. Itâs not that itâs the nutritional composition that is the issue with UPS itâs more about the fact if you had an UP fruit compote vs a whole apple which is going to satiate me and which is not, thatâs really where it lies. Itâs not a magic thing that makes you become unhealthy, itâs more an energy effect.Â