The average diet in United States homes is not very healthy, as evidenced by a recent analysis by researchers affiliated with Johns Hopkins University which found that over half of all calories consumed in U.S. households comes from ‘ultraprocessed foods.’ The results of the recent study were published on the university’s website, as well as in the academic publication Journal of Nutrition.
As the researchers pointed out on the university website, ultraprocessed foods are foods that contain ingredients with little or no nutritional value, including artificial colorings, emulsifiers, flavors, and sweeteners. Examples of ultraprocessed foods include, but are not limited to: chips, hot dogs, and prepackaged meals.
The study defined unprocessed and ‘minimally processed’ foods as fruits, vegetables, and other whole foods, “including frozen and dried foods without additional salt or other ingredients.”
“The perception can be that ‘junk food’ and ultraprocessed foods are equivalent,” says Julia Wolfson, PhD, MPP, associate professor in the Bloomberg School’s Department of International Health and the study’s lead author. “Yet ultraprocessed foods encompass many more products than just junk food or fast food, including most of the foods in the grocery store. The proliferation and ubiquity of ultraprocessed foods on grocery store shelves is changing what we are eating when we make meals at home.”
“Data are from 34,628 adults (aged ≥20 y) with two 24-h dietary recalls from the 2003–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We examined trends over time in intake from unprocessed/minimally processed foods and ultraprocessed foods as a proportion of total energy intake and as a proportion of at-home energy intake and away-from-home energy intake using generalized linear models adjusted for sex, age, race/ethnicity, education, and household income. We examined differences in trends by sociodemographic subgroups using interaction terms and stratified models.” the researchers stated about their study’s methodology.
“Overall, the proportion of total calories from minimally processed foods fell nearly five percentage points from 33.2% in 2003 to 28.5% in 2018, and minimally processed food intake declined both at home and away from home for most groups.” the researchers concluded.
Ultraprocessed foods may be convenient, and they may taste good in the short term, however, ongoing consumption of them can come with long-term consequences. As with many things, moderation is key – limit the amount of ultraprocessed foods that you consume, and instead eat a balanced diet that is packed with fruits, vegetables, and lean protein sources. Your future health depends on it.
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