These researchers also point out that not all UPFs are created equal.
Getty Images; EatingWell collage
Processed foods have certainly gotten a bad rep over the last few years.
Butmost of the foods we eat are processedon some level.
Photo:Getty Images; EatingWell collage
But there are levels of processing that’s done to different types of foods.
Those that are the most processed are often referred to as ultra-processed foods (UPFs).
), packaged snacks, packaged baked goods, ice cream, soda and frozen meals.
Most of these foods contain a lot of added sugar, salt and fat.
Some may contain artificial sweeteners in place of sugar.
These researchers state that many UPFs can also contain compounds that are generated through their production and packaging.
But some UPFs might be considered good for you.
Same with certain vegetarian processed foods, like veggie burgers and non-dairy milkslike almond, oat and soy milks.
UPFs are prevalent in our society, representing 57% of U.S. adults energy intake.
Heres what they found.
How Was This Study Conducted and What Does It Suggest?
This study was done in two parts.
The second part of this study was a meta-analysis of previous studies done on this topic.
Researchers wanted to compare them to what they found in the first part of the study.
After sifting through that information, 206,957 total participants across all three cohorts were included in the study.
Participants filled out food frequency questionnaires every two to four years.
Diet quality was determined by using a validated assessment.
Daily total energy and UPF intakes were calculated.
Specific foods were also associated with higher or lower risk.
And high consumption of artificially sweetened beverages was associated with greater CVD and CHD risk.
And ultra-processed bread and cold cereals were associated with lower stroke risk.
This included a total of 1,261,040 adults from around the globe.
How Does This Apply to Real Life?
News headlines often lump all UPFs together.
This includes high-fiber foods likewhole-grain bread, cereal and popcorn, as well as yogurt.
But you also need to be a wise consumer of these foods and read the labels.
Some whole-grain foods can still contain high levels ofadded sugar, fat and/or salt.
This also applies to yogurt.
Whether youre choosingGreek yogurt or regular yogurt, plain is typically your best bet.
If you want to avoid that, choose yogurt made with whole milk.
This can help make the transition easier.
