Today’s food is characterized by being a type of food manipulated by humans. If we go to the supermarket we will see that packaged and prepared products abound, there are few fresh ones in our pantry and we have the cuisine full of food that looks little like its natural version. These are processed foods and the ultra-processed.
In this article we want to focus on talking about ultra-processed food and its health hazards. They are a type of food that is handled extremely and is presented in a totally adulterous way to its original version.
What are ultra-processed foods, and why are they so bad?
When we talk about ultra-processed foods we are referring to a type of food that doesn’t look at all like what it looks like in its original form. This is the case, for example, of a burger: originally it comes from the cow or chicken, but we see it in a way that in no way looks like the natural form of the animal (on the other hand, a steak or the ribs are natural).
So we can count on this type of food in our kitchens, as they have previously had to pass a handling process. That’s why they are considered ultra-processed food, because, in order for us to see them in that regard, they have been processed in an extreme way.
And why aren’t they healthy? Because during the handling processes they are added preservatives, fats, salts or additives so that they can be maintained in this new form of presentation. WHO recommends that these ultra-processed foods be stopped from consuming or their intake reduced to the maximum, to avoid health problems.
Here are some examples of these ultra-processed foods so you know what they are and can lower their intake:
– Cold Cuts
– Hamburgers
– Sausages
– Cookies
– Pastry
– Nuggets
– Sugar-sweetened dairy products
– Desserts
– Refined cereals
– Energy bars
– ETC
You can tell if a food is ultra-processed if you realize that it doesn’t look anything like the original ingredient from which it comes.
Why are ultra-processed foods so popular?
Ultra-processed foods are designed to be consumed highly. Therefore, it has a type of component that stimulates appetite by making that, how much you eat, you never feel 100% satisfied.
In addition, ultraprocessed foods are much easier to eat these days: they save us time, they satisfy our appetite, and make us enjoy a meal full of fats, salts, and sugars, elements that are harmful to our body.
How to distinguish a processed food from an ultra-processed food?
We have already commented that ultra-processed foods can be easily distinguished because their presentation is completely far from what the base food looks like. Take, for example, the cookies that are made with flour, sugars, and other components. The cookie is nothing like wheat or flour, so we can surely be a food that has been processed greatly.
In addition, you can distinguish these foods because they usually contain sugars, trans fats, and additives, as they are very common components used during food processing. If you notice the label that has more chemicals than natural ingredients, it means that you’re facing an ultra-processed one.