Ultra-processed foods vs unprocessed foods - What foods are not UPF?

There is a lot of buzz around ultra-processed foods, warning customers against the harmful effect of eating these foods on regular basis. But what about other packaged foods?

Let's talk about foods that are minimally processed or naturally processed. Are they really dangerous?

It all depends how they were made and what was added to them. In general, minimally processed foods do not contain ingredients industrially produced or extracted from other sources. 

They are considered to be better for your health and that's what you should look for when buying in the online food stores. How do you spot healthy unprocessed foods in the supermarket?

Unprocessed or minimally processed foods

Unprocessed foods are foods that were not processed in any way in a production plant or factory. They are fresh or naturally dried and all their nutritional benefits are preserved.

This includes whole foods such as fresh and frozen veggies and fruits, dried fruit and vegetables, pulses and legumes, nuts, seeds, grains, flour, mushrooms, herbs, spices, milk and natural plain yoghurt, fresh meat and fish, eggs, pasta, rice and couscous.

Minimally processed culinary ingredients

Minimally processed culinary ingredients are products used for cooking that are made in a natural way without artificial additives. 

This includes products such as vegetable oils for example olive oil and sunflower oil, stone ground natural nut butters, butter, natural honey, agave, maple syrup and sugar, salt and vinegar, tinned vegetables (no additives), freshly made bread, cheese, cured meat, smoked fish; and salted nuts and seeds (or sugared, honey coated etc).