It’s time to clear up the confusion over ultra-processed foods (We know ultra-processed foods are bad for you – but can you spot them? Take our quiz, 21 November). Yes, eating UPFs made from animal products (like chicken nuggets and cheese in a squeeze bottle) can increase the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and certain cancers, but UPFs from plants (like cereal, canned beans and even veggie burgers) can actually help keep you healthy.
More and more leading health organisations agree that a more nuanced approach to UPFs is necessary. The American Medical Association recently passed a resolution that “supports and promotes public awareness and education about the differences between healthful foods and unhealthful ultra-processed foods”. The American Heart Association also recently released a report noting that “not all UPFs are junk foods or have poor nutritional quality; some UPFs have better nutritional value [than others] and can be part of an overall healthy dietary pattern”. This difference has a lot to do with whether the UPF is an animal- or plant-based product.
Recent research illustrates the difference. A Harvard study found that animal-based products were associated with 44% higher risk of diabetes, while ultra-processed cereals reduced risk by 22%. A BioMed Central study showed moderate consumption of muesli and bran cereal correlated with reduced mortality risks related to cardiovascular disease and cancer. Research even shows that plant-based meat alternatives are a healthier option than animal meat, even if that meat alternative is ultra-processed.
Physicians Committee research has also demonstrated the health benefits of replacing animal products with plant-based foods – even UPFs: weight loss, fewer hot flashes in postmenopausal women and improved insulin sensitivity in people with type 1 diabetes.
The discussion over UPFs distracts from the real public health problem: meat and dairy products. Choosing a veggie burger, however processed, instead of a beef burger is always a healthier choice.
Noah Praamsma
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, Washington, DC
