Ultra-processed foods may be healthier than you think

 

 If you pay attention to your health when it comes to your diet, there are some basic rules to follow. Conventional wisdom says you should avoid ingredients that are overly processed. Some might think  this applies even more to highly processed foods. This terminology refers to foods that, in the words of the British Heart Foundation, "contain multiple ingredients that are typically never or rarely found in your kitchen." But as with many things related to nutrition in 2024, the reality may be a bit more complicated. 

A recent Business Insider article by Hilary Brooke quotes scientist Kevin Hall as pointing out that highly processed foods that contain healthy ingredients can still be good for you. He noted that you should look for three key ingredients: whole grains, legumes, and non-starchy vegetables. "I think we can still make an informed decision," Hall said.   Hall was referring to the NOVA NOVA system for classifying foods according to their level of processing. NOVA 4 stands for highly processed foods. "Some of these NOVA 4 products contain a lot of the good things that we traditionally associate with nutrition and very little of the bad," he told Business Insider. 

Hall is not the only expert in the field who argues that some highly processed foods are not as unhealthy as the label suggests. Last month, The New York Times quoted Maya Buddy bellow of the University of Rhode Island in an article about highly toxic foods. Buddy bellow told Times staff writer Alice Callahan that some foods in this category (such as, in Callahan's words, "whole-grain bread, flavored yogurt, and infant formula") contain healthy nutrients. 

Knowing where your food comes from is a step toward health, but it's not the only one. And knowing what to look for on convenience food labels can  go a long way toward improving your nutrition. READ MORE