They’re now said to be harmful to every part of the body.
But the never-ending reel of health warnings doesn’t stop the average Brit from consuming ultra-processed foods (UPFs).
The pre-packaged items, which are often made with numerous additives, emulsifiers and flavourings, make up 57 per cent of the British diet, studies show.
However, increasing evidence suggests not all UPFs should be tarred with the same brush — a study published this week found only two of the 10 studied are bad for our heart.
Now, one nutrition guru has taken social media by storm with a similar approach, finding healthy UPFs on supermarket shelves.
One nutrition guru has taken social media by storm, finding healthy UPFs on supermarket shelves. In one clip, he reveals how a 50p packet of ‘ultra-processed’ pitta bread in fact contains exactly the same ingredients as home-baked bread, with added bone-boosting calcium
‘Health fixer’ Sunna van Kampen has attracted 604,000 Instagram followers to his channel where he shares his tours of ASDA, Tesco and Lidl that see him scout out the least processed bargains
Other videos highlight which Haribo sweet packets to opt for — with lesser-known type ZinFest containing half the amount of sugar in one bag compared to a packet of SuperMix
‘Health fixer’ Sunna van Kampen has attracted 604,000 Instagram followers to his channel where he shares his tours of ASDA, Tesco and Lidl that see him scout out the least processed bargains.
In one clip, he reveals how a 50p packet of ‘ultra-processed’ pitta bread in fact contains exactly the same ingredients as home-baked bread, with added bone-boosting calcium.
In another, he identifies packs of childrens’ crisps that are ‘the best option to go for’ for childrens’ snacks as they’re packed with bowel-boosting fibre.
He also has vegetarians and vegans covered, pointing to ‘better’ pre-packaged snack and dinner options ‘that aren’t that processed’ after all.
Other videos highlight which Haribo sweet packets to opt for — with lesser-known type ZingFest containing half the amount of sugar in one bag compared to a packet of SuperMix.
It comes as US researchers yesterday suggested sugary drinks and processed meats — such as sausages and bacon — are the only two UPFs associated with a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes.
He also has vegetarians and vegans covered, pointing to ‘better’ pre-packaged snack and dinner options ‘that aren’t that processed’ after all
Experts have long warned of the high salt, fat and even sugar content of pasta sauces and savoury cooking sauces. But Mr Van Kampen also pointed to a handful of options Brits should turn to if they’re strapped for time
Yoghurt, wholegrain bread and savoury snacks, meanwhile, were shown to slightly reduce the risk of the diseases.
Additive-laden foods have long been vilified over their supposed risks, with some experts even calling for UPFs — typically anything edible that has more artificial ingredients than natural ones — to be slashed from diets.
The umbrella term is used to cover anything edible made with colourings, sweeteners and preservatives that extend shelf life.
Ready meals, ice cream and tomato ketchup are some of the best-loved examples of products that fall under the umbrella UPF term.
They are different from processed foods, which are altered to make them last longer or enhance their taste, such as cured meat, cheese and fresh bread.
Yet dietitians argue this sweeping judgement wrongly fingers ‘healthy’ options such as fish fingers and baked beans.
‘The root cause of most people’s health issues today is one thing — food,’ Mr van Kampen, dubbed ‘Mr Tonic’, told one TikTok video, seen 29,000 times.
Additive-laden foods have long been vilified over their supposed risks, with some experts even calling for UPFs — typically anything edible that has more artificial ingredients than natural ones — to be slashed from diets
The Nova system, developed by scientists in Brazil more than a decade ago, splits food into four groups based on the amount of processing it has gone through. Unprocessed foods include fruit, vegetables, nuts, eggs and meat. Processed culinary ingredients — which are usually not eaten alone — include oils, butter, sugar and salt
‘It’s what we put in our body. It’s the fuel that fires the engine to allow us to live our life and most of us put junk in it.’
In one Instagram post filmed in Tesco, Mr Van Kampen told his followers which three supermarket breads he ‘would actually purchase’.
‘One of the most unprocessed versions of bread in the supermarket is actually pitta breads. They’re a classic, they’re super cheap — 50p — and they’re just made of wheat, flour, water, yeast, salt and a bit of calcium and wheat starch.
‘That is a decent option. I also love the Piadina mini flatbreads from Crosta & Mollica.
‘These don’t use any seed oils. They just use extra virgin olive oil and are super low processed.
‘All the bagels are s***. The third one is Jason’s sourdough which is legit sourdough — no added seed oils or preservatives.
‘Tesco’s own sourdough is also good because it is actually real sourdough.’
Experts have long warned of the high salt, fat and even sugar content of pasta sauces and savoury cooking sauces.
But Mr Van Kampen also pointed to a handful of options Brits should turn to if they’re strapped for time.
‘What you see in some of the cheaper brands like Dolmio is they’re adding rapeseed oil — which isn’t good — added flavouring, maize starch and added sugar,’ he said in a separate Instagram post.
‘Look for something like Loyd Grossman, they took the sugar out. That’s a step in the right direction but they still use rapeseed oil.
‘The Heinz range actually use virgin olive oil and I don’t see any sugar,’ he added.
‘If you’re looking to save yourself some money, some of the Tesco Finest ones like the basil pesto use real olive oil only.
‘Some of their tomato based sauces are olive oil only. These are a great option.’
According to UK guidelines, adults should have no more than seven teaspoons of added sugar — extra sugar that has been added to food — per day, to reduce the risk of consuming too many calories and tooth decay.
And you can still get your oven pizza fix too.
Pointing to a Chicago Town stuffed crust frozen pizza in one TikTok, he told followers: ‘These are highly processed and they come with loads of additives that you don’t want.
‘What you want is just a pizza — bread, cheese and tomato.’
Picking up one made by Crosta & Mollica, he added: ‘So if you add your own toppings to something like this, you’re getting an actual sourdough base, much healthier for you.
‘They use olive oil and they’ve got a really short ingredients list there compared to some of the long ones you see.’
Meanwhile for vegetarians, a ‘better’ pre-packaged snack and dinner option is falafel from brand Gosh!, he advised in a separate video.
‘They are just veggies. Yes they have a little bit of rapeseed oil but they aren’t typically that processed.’
And chickpea pasta from Aldi was among other recommendations, with 14 grams of protein per one hundred grams. Typically, white pasta contains around five to six grams.
Health experts recommend adults eat roughly 15g of protein at every meal, to keep you full and help with muscle strength.
The UK is the worst in Europe for eating UPFs, which make up an estimated 57 per cent of the national diet.
They are thought to be a key driver of obesity, which costs the NHS around £6.5billion a year.
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