Understanding Ultra-Processed Foods

Americans are getting more and more of our calories from ultra-processed foods. One study found that more than half of our diets consist of foods that contain ingredients with no nutritional value including sports drinks, wheat bread, flavored yogurt, and frozen pizza. Studies have shown ultra-processed foods can lead to poor health outcomes from obesity and cancer to anxiety. But the products that shoppers should steer clear of can be hard to detect. They are often marketed as healthy options and some health experts say they are not all bad. We dig into the rise of ultra-processed foods, what they might mean for our health and how to spot them on grocery shelves.

Guests:

Alice Callahan, nutrition reporter, The New York Times

Dr. Uma Naidoo, psychiatrist, chef, and nutritionist; She is the author of "This Is Your Brain on Food" and "Calm Your Mind with Food."

Laurel Bristow, host of Health Wanted, WABE Public Radio in Atlanta and NPR; She is also associate director of audience development for the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University.

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