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What Are Ultra-Processed Foods: Can They Affect Your Mental Health?

What are ultra processed foods? While fast food might seem enticing, you might think twice after learning the link between food and mental health.

By Carla Delgado
Nov 8, 2023 2:00 PMMar 25, 2024 6:37 PM
Fast food, link between food and mental health
(Credit: Alena Haurylik/Shutterstock)

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More often than not, a trip to the grocery store ends up with the purchase of packaged snacks, sugar-sweetened beverages, or reconstituted meat products, also known as ultra-processed foods. These foods make up more than 70 percent of the packaged foods in the U.S. and represent about 60 percent of the calories consumed by the average American.

Extensive research has already indicated how detrimental ultra-processed foods are to your physical health — but what about your mental health?

What Are Ultra Processed Foods?

Ultra-processed foods are popular because they’re convenient, ready to eat, and usually less expensive than other foods. However, they tend to be high in added sugar, salt and saturated fat, not to mention the processing depletes the food’s nutritional value.

Ultra Processed Foods vs. Processed Foods

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