The American Heart Association today released a report pointing out that while most ultra-processed foods (UPFs) common in U.S. dietary patterns are unhealthful, not all UPFs are of poor nutritional quality.
The title of the article doesn’t explain what ultraprocessed foods this org considers healthy, so here’s a quote:
“We are pleased to see the AHA point out that there are healthful and unhealthful UPFs,” says Noah Praamsma, MS, RDN, Nutrition Education Coordinator at the Physicians Committee. “There are actually many healthful UPFs that reduce risk of disease and tend to have one thing in common: They are derived from plants. Breakfast cereals, plant-based milks (like soy milk and oat milk), many breads, pasta, canned fruits and vegetables, and plant-based meat substitutes can belong in a healthy diet, especially if they replace animal products.”
I hope we’ll start to see more studies introducing nuance to the UPF hype— I’ve lately seen journalists specifically mentioning oat milk, breakfast cereals, and canned fruit as UPF to avoid.
The title of the article doesn’t explain what ultraprocessed foods this org considers healthy, so here’s a quote:
I hope we’ll start to see more studies introducing nuance to the UPF hype— I’ve lately seen journalists specifically mentioning oat milk, breakfast cereals, and canned fruit as UPF to avoid.