what is "processed" versus "highly processed" versus "ultra processed"?

the way these things are described feels very much like people are using a dowsing rod to find where to dig a well, or something. mumbo-jumbo.

I'm sure even "super ultra giga processed" foods are fine for you so long as you don't eat a lot of them. I'm not even sure that "processed" is bad at all. I don't want to eat raw cashews, I'll die (as will anyone else) I want those processed by cooking. Is pre-cooked food "processed" or "highly processed" or "ultra processed" or something else? all of the above; it depends on who you ask.

I don't know of any level of "processed" which is bad, I just know that if you consume 10k calories per day and only burn 3k, you're going to gain weight, level of "processed" probably doesn't matter. And I think that's all this study is saying: unless you're extremely active, you can't burn 10k calories a day, your body really limits how many calories you can burn in a day unless you are physically working enough to actually turn that amount of energy into physical work.

anyway, yeah. i immediately distrust anyone that starts mentioning "processed" or "highly processed" or "ultra processed" because I don't think those are defined. I think they're speaking entirely on vibes which are not quantitative.

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palmfacehn 2 days ago | parent | next [-]

>Wise Cheez Doodles Honey Bbq Cheese Flavored Corn Snacks, Honey; Bbq; Cheese

>CORN MEAL, VEGETABLE OIL (CONTAINS ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING: CORN, COTTONSEED, SUNFLOWER, OR CANOLA OIL), SUGAR, SALT, HONEY, CORN STARCH, FRUCTOSE, WHEY, DEXTROSE MONOHYDRATE, MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE (FLAVOR ENHANCER), TOMATO POWDER, CHEDDAR CHEESE, (CULTURED MILK, SALT ENZYMES), ONION POWDER, BUTTER (CREAM, SALT), BLUE CHEESE FLAVOR, BUTTERMILK SOLIDS, MALTODEXRIN, YELLOW 5 LAKE, YELLOW 6 LAKE, GARLIC POWDER, PAPRIKA EXTRACT, NATURAL FLAVORS (CONTAINS CELERY), SOYBEAN OIL, LACTIC ACID, CITRIC ACID, SODIUM PHOSPHATE, ENZYME MODIFIED BUTTER OIL, YELLOW 5, YELLOW 6, AUTOLYZED YEAST EXTRACT, THIAMIN HYDROCHLORIDE (VITAMIN B1), DISODIUM GUANYLATE, DISODIUM INOSINATE

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naikrovek 2 days ago | parent [-]

[flagged]

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pitpatagain 2 days ago | parent | next [-]

I cook basically all my meals but also have no fear of "unnatural" ingredients (I have a shaker of msg right next to the stove, I have cooked mac and cheese with sodium citrate, etc) and no, this ingredient list is not like normal home cooked meals.

Some of it is typical flavoring stuff, onion powder, etc, that could easily show up on a list of spices in a home dish.

But a big part of the list is the stuff you see in highly engineered food product only: maltodextrin, dextrose monohydrate, yellow 5, disodium guanylate, disodium inosinate, sodium phosphate, etc.

No "home cooked meal of home grown fruits and vegetables" has a similar ingredient list to this.

	▲	com2kid 2 days ago \| parent [-]
		Nit: MSG is naturally occuring in a lot of foods.

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palmfacehn 2 days ago | parent | prev [-]

You seem to have projected a fear or intent into the comment which wasn't intended or explicitly described. I mostly agree in that taste is subjective, "There's no accounting for taste". Personally, I find those things unappetizing. As I said above, this is my bias. You asked for an example of something which I would regard as a highly processed food. I provided one. I cannot satisfy your other inquiries.

Although I will say that I have suspicions around the industrial processes for food additives and dyes. Yellow 6 for example is petroleum or coal tar derived. I'm sure the relevant regulatory bodies have approved these things, but I am not convinced that it is something I would like to consume personally.

Perhaps the burden should be on the manufacturer? I'm not sure where the discussion would lead if I had to rationalize every industrial by-product I preferred not to eat?

Again, there's no accounting for taste.

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quesera 2 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

> i immediately distrust anyone that starts mentioning "processed" or "highly processed" or "ultra processed" because I don't think those are defined. I think they're speaking entirely on vibes which are not quantitative.

Don't be afraid to use the web to dispel your confusion!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra-processed_foods

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova_classification

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com2kid 2 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

You are technically correct that processed foods are no less healthy than any other foods.

However they are engineered to be hyper palatable, meaning they taste way better than other foods and they will not satiate you even after eating and excessive amount.

Or to put it simply, it is really damn easy to eat a thousand calories of potato chips and still be hungry for "a real meal" but most people will tap out before eating a thousand calories of steak (12 to 16oz).

	▲	rgoulter a day ago \| parent [-]
		I think focus on satiation & calorie density makes good sense. "Ultra-processed" is not completely precise, not completely accurate proxy for "hyper palatable, low satiation, calorie dense".

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Legend2440 2 days ago | parent | prev [-]

The big thing about processed food is that it is “purified” in a sense to strip it down to just starches, sugar, and fats. Think sweet corn vs corn syrup.

If you eat only processed foods but limit your calories, you will not become overweight. But you will not be getting enough fiber or micronutrients, and you will probably not feel full either.