“Ultra-Processed” foods are making news again this week. The news is never good for these cheap, dangerous, foods
For years scientists have tied eating ultra-processed foods with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, inflammation, cancer, and more. Now, it’s linked to death.
A study published a few days ago stated that people who consume greater amounts of ultra-processed foods may be at increased risk of death (1).
The researchers stated, “Findings from this prospective study of a large French cohort suggest for the first time, to our knowledge, that an increased proportion of ultra-processed foods in the diet is associated with a higher risk of overall mortality.”
This is bad news for anyone who consumes the Standard American Diet (SAD), which typically includes many processed foods.
Based on the study participants, 14.4% of the total weight of the food consumed came from ultra-processed foods. This accounted for 29.1% of their total daily caloric intake.
What’s more, for every 10% increase in ultra-processed foods, the risk for all-cause death increased by 14%!
While this may describe the SAD, is it possible for a Keto Diet to be ultra-processed?
It is.
If you’re only looking at the “numbers” for keto, and not the overall quality of the foods and ingredients, it can easily become too ultra-processed.
One aspect that sets Keto Zone eating apart is not only the adherence to low-carb keto standards but also to healthy anti-inflammatory foods and ingredients.
Ultra-processed foods include mass-produced, ready-to-eat foods such as packaged snacks, sugary drinks, breads, candies, ready-made meals, and processed meats.
Typically these foods have a high-calorie value but are low in nutritional value.
They use extremely cheap ingredients that are produced in a lab or processed down from whole foods to the point of no longer resembling the original food nutritionally.
They are often high in processed fats, sugars, and sodium.
People often select ultra-processed foods because they are:
If you’re not choosey when eating a keto diet, even it can become too high in ultra-processed foods.
By definition, most “keto branded” foods are not high in carbohydrates and sugar. This, at least, gives you a good start.
But, there are dangerous ultra-processed ingredients that sneak into Keto Foods. To avoid them, follow these 3 steps:
Even a Keto diet can be full of ultra-processed foods. Don’t just eat Keto; eat in the Keto Zone. Choose healthy, whole-food, nourishing Keto Zone foods as much as possible. When you can’t make it yourself, be extra choosey and pick foods with the best ingredients possible to promote whole-body health and longevity.