What Are Ultra-Processed Foods?
These include sugary drinks, fast food, and packaged snacks.
What Did the Study Find?
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They also had one-on-one meal planning and financial assistance to help cover the cost of minimally processed foods.
On average, each person lost nearly eight pounds.
It shows that small changes can lead to significant results.
How Does Limiting Ultra-Processed Foods Benefit Your Health?
Cutting back on ultra-processed foods may support weight loss because these snacks can disrupt your bodys natural hunger cues.
Youre also less likely to crave additional ultra-processed foods, she added.
Reducing ultra-processed foods also limits your exposure to artificial additives.
Here are five tips to get you started:
How Long Will It Take to See Results?
Changes can happen quickly, said Garcia-Webb.
Over time, these small changes can extend to measurable health markers likelower blood pressureand blood sugar levels.
Its similar to exercise: The big benefits come with consistency over time, said Garcia-Webb.
This creates a positive feedback loop that helps perpetuate change.
Noticeable benefits include weight loss, more energy, and a better mood.
Lane M, et al.Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analyses.BMJ.
2024;384:e077310.
