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Processed foods may be cheap and convenient, but they come with hidden costs — especially to your health.
It’s no secret that the standard Western diet has contributed to a rise in obesity, chronic disease, and metabolic dysfunction. But what’s often misunderstood is the role that ultra-processed foods play in this crisis. Many people confuse “processed” foods—like cheese or canned sardines—with ultra-processed foods. But there’s a world of difference, and it matters for your health.
What Are Ultra-Processed Foods?
Ultra-processed foods are industrial products that bear little resemblance to the whole foods they may have originated from. They’re often packed with synthetic additives, refined sugars, seed oils, and emulsifiers. These products are designed to be hyper-palatable and shelf-stable—not to nourish you. These products are stripped of natural nutrients and reassembled with chemicals to mimic flavor, texture, and color.
Examples include:
Even so-called "healthy" foods—like fruit juice or veggie chips—can be ultra-processed. A glass of unsweetened orange juice, for example, can contain more sugar than a can of Coke and lacks the fiber and nutrients found in the whole fruit.
How Ultra-Processed Foods Affect Your Body
Ultra-processed foods are not just empty calories—they disrupt your biology. These products are designed to override hunger cues and stimulate overeating. A randomized controlled trial found that people eating ultra-processed diets consumed significantly more calories and gained weight compared to those eating unprocessed foods, even when meals were matched for nutrients and satiety level (Hall et al., 2019).
Many ultra-processed foods are low in protein and high in refined carbohydrates, contributing to something known as the protein leverage hypothesis: when your body doesn’t get enough protein, it drives you to eat more to meet its need (Martinez Steele et al., 2017).
Over time, this can lead to:
Hidden Ingredients That Harm
Several additives commonly found in ultra-processed foods are now under scientific scrutiny. These include:
The Role of the Western Diet
The standard American diet—high in refined grains, industrial seed oils, added sugars, and low in bioavailable protein—has been directly linked to the rising rates of obesity and chronic illness over the past 50 years. According to research from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the Western diet's shift away from animal fats and toward processed foods is a root cause of today’s metabolic crisis (Cordain et al., 2005).
What Should You Eat Instead?
Dr. Stanton’s approach centers on real food: whole, nutrient-dense options that support human physiology without triggering inflammation.
That means:
Rather than counting calories or chasing “low-fat” trends, the goal is to return to foods your body recognizes and can metabolize efficiently.
Final Thoughts
At Health by Principle, we believe in giving your body what it actually needs—not what’s been engineered for shelf life and marketing appeal. Ultra-processed foods are designed to hijack hunger and harm your health. The best defense? Eat real food. Trust your biology. And don’t be fooled by a flashy label or trendy claim.
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