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Ultra-processed foods - bad for our health?

There are lots of food and drinks we see in the supermarket with colorful labels and nice packaging that make us ask our parents to buy them for us. But is the food or drink good for us just because it looks good on the outside? A lot of these good-looking products are called ultra-processed foods that a lot of us eat every day. I wanted to find out more on this subject and in the .edu and .org sources that I researched on the internet, it looks to me that they are not very good for you.

According to my internet-based research, ultra-processed foods and drinks contain ingredients with additives that are not healthy and can lead to health problems. A lot of the ingredients on their labels would not be used when you cook food at home like preservatives or artificial flavors. Often the amounts of salt, unhealthy oils, and sugar can be a cause of multiple diseases. These unhealthy ingredients are the reason why we seem to believe that they are so delicious and yummy! However, foods or drinks with lots of salt will give us high blood pressure. Unhealthy oils like corn oil will block the veins in our body and can cause heart diseases. A lot of sugar in foods or drinks can make you overweight and might cause diabetes.

Some cereals, snacks, and ready meals are supposed to be nutritious and healthy options when we are hungry and just want to eat something quickly. However, the internet sources that I looked at, showed that eating lots of ultra-processed foods will only provide us with empty calories, which make us feel hungry quicker and may cause us to overeat. Empty calories are when the fats and sugar content in a product are more than the nutrients.

One reliable internet source explained that kids who consume a lot of ultra-processed products between 12-15yrs old, were not as fit as kids who ate healthier foods regularly. It also said that kids who ate lots of ultra-processed foods or drinks between 3-5yrs old, had poorer motor skills than the kids who were eating healthier foods.

So, is it better that everyone should consume less ultra-processed products? While it is very easy for us to grab a Jollibee, McDonalds, Chow King, soft drinks, hotdogs, or a packet of crisps, it would be much better to drink or eat something healthier. Mineral water, fresh fruit or vegetables, and lean cuts of meat like roasted chicken are better options for our bodies. Healthy products also give our bodies the things we need, such as vitamins that will keep us healthy and give you a long life.

To conclude, the ultra-processed products that we can buy in supermarkets or fast food restaurants might be very convenient, cheap, and taste good, but from the internet sources I researched, it has convinced me that they are typically unhealthy and might give us health problems later in life. I think it is ok to consume these types of products maybe once or twice a month, but it is much better for everyone to eat and drink healthier products every day so that we can all live long lives. So, let’s try and make some changes to the food and drinks we consume every day. Our bodies will also thank us when we get old!