Ultra-processed foods may not be as bad as you think

The prevailing narrative that ultra-processed foods are inherently unhealthy and should be avoided is challenged by a new study published in the Journal of Nutrition.

Contrary to popular belief, the study concluded that A A diet consisting of 91% ultra-processed foods Not only was more healthy of the typical American diet, in addition to meeting the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). This study challenges the notion that ultra-processed foods are the root of all nutritional ills.

The researchers aimed to create a 7-day menu that provides about 2,000 calories and meets the DGA, with more than 80% of calories coming from ultra-processed foods.

according to American Council on Science and HealthBased on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the authors identified foods that reflected both the recommendations of the DGA and dietary choices typical of North Americans.

Among the 10 most frequently consumed food categories, 200 different foods were selected, and those classified as ultra-processed according to the NOVA classification were included in the 7-day diet plan.

It should be noted that this food plan Meet the guidelines for saturated fats and added sugars, and only vitamins D and E were below recommended levels. The diet scored 86 points on the Healthy Eating Index, which is equivalent to a “B” score, indicating an A High level of food quality.

Despite the evidence presented by this study, misconceptions about food processing and its impact on nutrition persist among the American public.

Surveys reveal that a large percentage of individuals believe that minimally processed foods are healthy and that foods without artificial ingredients are more likely to be nutritious. In addition, a large number of respondents claim to have knowledge about the DGA, which illustrates the Dunning-Kruger effect, whereby individuals with little knowledge overestimating their efficiency.

However, the fact is that the healthy eating index averages for Americans still low59, and has not improved significantly since its development in 1995.