Processed foods have been around for centuries, such as olive oil and cheese for example. However when food became produced on a massive scale, especially in modern day, they have become widely prevalent, especially in the United States and could pose health risks to a large majority of people.
It’s no secret why many people consume ultra processed food. It’s cheap, tends to keep well instead of rotting, is usually packed with calories and appeals to a wide variety of consumers. However, are we eating too much? According to Ballard Brief, “The consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) in America is at an all-time high, with over 50% of daily calories eaten being sourced from UPFs. The increase of consumption of UPFs is due to the growing population, urbanization and industrialization.”
It may sound easy to avoid processed foods, however it’s more difficult that you think, with The Conversation stating that “The ways ultra-processed foods harm our health aren’t just about calories or individual nutrients like salt, sugar and fat, though those aren’t making things better. It’s also in the way they’re made. Take that seemingly healthy tub of yogurt. On its own, yogurt is indeed very healthy. The problem is when things like jam-like fruit with preservatives or artificial vanilla flavouring are added.”
It’s best to do your research on what you eat, what’s inside of it and watch how much of it you’re eating at a time so that you can more easily maintain a healthy diet. Planning out your grocery trips ahead of time and working on eating a balanced diet, while might be time consuming, could benefit you in the long run as processed foods continue to grow even more prevalent.
