MINNEAPOLIS — We know that whole foods like fruits and vegetables are good for us, but they don’t make up the majority of our diet.
In fact, almost 60% of calories in the average American diet come from ultra-processed foods.
Ultra-processed foods — with added ingredients like preservatives, artificial flavors and colors — make up 73% of the U.S. food supply, and have been linked to issues like diabetes, obesity, depression and cancer.
“These are foods that are processed, but they’re really distinguished by what is added to it. And typically they contain a lot of sugar, fat, salt,” said Job Ubbink, Food Science and Nutrition Department Head at the University of Minnesota. “Typically ultra-processed foods, these are rich in calories, high in calories, but low in essential nutrients we need to have.”
Ultra-processed foods include candy bars, chips, pastries and fast foods.
Veganwitt founder Wilton Howard cut them from his diet after experiencing inflammation.