We know that eating ultra-processed foods (UPFs) increases the risk of several chronic diseases. What we don’t know is exactly why. “Scientists have not reached a consensus on what it is about UPFs that makes diets high in these foods so harmful,” says Kimberley Wilson, the author of Unprocessed. It could be because they are high in fat, salt and sugar; low in fibre; low in micronutrients; or that they affect the gut microbiome. It could be all of the above.
It is difficult for most people to entirely eliminate UPFs from their diets, so what should you focus on? “The UPFs that seem to be driving the harms are sugar-sweetened beverages and processed meat products,” says Wilson. “High-fibre UPFs seem to be associated with better health outcomes. I think the focus should be on increasing the intake of fibre, fruits and vegetables.”
