"a new term into scientific literature: ultra-processed foods or UPF’s. Defining the term as highly processed foods rich in sugar, salt, white flour and a plethora of additives and artificial ingredients, they would go on to link UPF’s with not only weight gain, but a wide range of health conditions, including heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, obesity, gastrointestinal conditions and depression. And let’s not forget premature death.

Experts tell us that while there are “strong opinions” about why UPF’s are wreaking havoc on our collective wellness, more rigorous science is needed.

I guess it’s not enough for them to realize that these foods are intentionally manufactured to cause overeating, due to hard-to-resist combos of fat, sugar and salt, not to mention flavor enhancers designed to make them addictive. They are made to be easy to chew so you swallow more quantity quickly.

Here is the real kicker though. Many countries like Mexico, Brazil, Canada and a variety of European countries explicitly recommend avoiding UPF’s, US dietary guidelines contain no such advice. (I’m holding my breath to see the new guidelines released in 2025.)

Experts ask what we can do about UPF’s? We can take them out of our food system. How? With education, we will have a more informed consumer who will demand better by voting with their dollar."

https://www.christinacooks.com/well-this-is-frustrating/