According to the Department of Agriculture, processed foods are any raw agricultural commodities that have been washed, cleaned, milled, cut, chopped, heated, pasteurized, blanched, cooked, canned, frozen, dried, dehydrated, mixed or packaged. Basically, a process that alters a food’s natural state. Now, let’s talk about the difference between processed and ultra-processed foods. An easy analogy is to look at processed foods as a spectrum. At one end of the spectrum are unprocessed or minimally processed foods like apples or oats. In the middle of the spectrum are processed foods that have a few added ingredients but still “look” like whole food ingredients. These would be canned vegetables, freshly baked breads and pasteurized milk. At the other end of the spectrum are ultra-processed foods or “junk food:’ These foods are so far removed from whole foods and are often referred to as “food-based products:’ They may be made from substances extracted from foods or synthesized in laboratories. Basically, they are “industrial creations:’ These ultra-processed foods are generally packed with additives like oil, fat, sugar, starch, proteins, artificial colors and sodium. They are basically stripped of all nutrients that we need to be healthy.
Processed and Ultra-Processed Foods: Are they slowly killing us?
