Yikes! 60% of Our Diet Is Made up of This, and It Is Scary Stuff

The so-called “American diet” doesn’t have a reputation for being the most healthful.

But just how terrible is it? A new study revealed some disturbing information.

According to new research published in the online journal BMJ Open, “ultra-processed” foods make up more than half of all calories consumed in the US and contribute almost all of our added sugar intake.

In case you are wondering what the study authors mean by “ultra-processed foods”, here’s how they define them:

Ultra-processed foods are formulations of several ingredients. Besides salt, sugar, oils, and fats, they include substances not generally used in cooking, such as flavorings, emulsifiers, and other additives designed to mimic the qualities of “real foods.”

Ultra-processed foods include mass produced soft drinks; sweet or savory packaged snacks; confectionery and desserts; packaged baked goods; chicken/fish nuggets and other reconstituted meat products; instant noodles and soups.

They found that ultra-processed foods comprised almost 60 percent of the total calories consumed, and 90 percent of the calorie intake from added sugars.

Yes, this is as bad as it sounds.

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