Aug 18, 2025
These are industrially made foods with additives like preservatives, artificial flavors, and stabilizers. Think chips, sodas, instant noodles, and packaged sweets.
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Processing also includes freezing, canning, or pasteurizing methods that make food safe and extend shelf life. The problem starts when foods are heavily altered and stripped of nutrients.
Source: healthline/ unsplash
Fortified breakfast cereals, plant based milk, or whole grain bread may fall into this category. They provide convenience, added vitamins, and can still support health.
Source: healthline/ unsplash
Sugary sodas, packaged desserts, fried snacks, and instant meals high in sodium, trans fats, and additives, these are linked to obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
Source: healthline/ unsplash
A short ingredient list is preferrable, but a long list of chemicals, artificial colors, and high sugar or salt is even worse. If you can’t pronounce half the ingredients, rethink it.
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These include, replacing soda with sparkling water and lemon. Swapping instant noodles for whole grain pasta is another good option. You can also pick plain yogurt and add fruit instead of flavoured ones.
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Even bad ultra processed foods aren’t harmful if eaten rarely and in small amounts. Trouble starts when they dominate daily meals instead of fresh, whole foods.
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Research links heavily processed foods to poor gut microbiome health, which can affect digestion and even mood regulation. Minimally processed options support better gut balance.
Source: healthline/ unsplash
Diabetics, here are some low-sugar foods you can try