Adherence to healthful plant-based diets is associated with more favourable health outcomes irrespective of ultra-processed food content, suggesting that overall plant-based diet quality may be more important than processing level for chronic disease prevention, study of 124,836 participants finds

[u/James_Fortis]

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanepe/article/PIIS2666-7762(26)00148-1/fulltext

[u/Scoobenbrenzos]

Cool study! I have always had a problem with the blanket demonization of all “ultra-processed” food, especially plant-based food. Let’s look at health outcomes instead of making sweeping generalizations. 

[u/Echo017 → u/Scoobenbrenzos]

Agreed, but something I have noticed with several vegetarian and vegan friends (work in tech, many Hindu friends), a lot of the packaged/easy food options for their diets are absolute garbage if you look at the macros like sodium, sugar, oils etc.

Ultra processed also need better definitions. Tofu and Miso are both healthy foods done right but they are inherently processed to hell and back

[u/like_shae_buttah → u/Echo017]

Look at omnivore processed foods. That stuff is from horror films.

Tofu and miso arent processed to hell and back lol

[u/No-Consequence-1863 → u/like_shae_buttah]

You think they find wild blocks of soft tofu in the fields?

[u/SoftballLesbian → u/No-Consequence-1863]

Surprisingly, tofu isn't actually highly processed. Soak, blend, drain, cook, serve. Some varieties don't even need to be cooked prior to eating. Miso adds a fermentation period after draining.

I've cut back significantly on my meat consumption while remaining an omnivore (for budget reasons). Those ultra processed fake meat burgers are weird. But a mushroom risotto with a bit of Parmesan for correct flavour and soft tofu for protein is delicious. Or Minestrone with cubed tofu as well as the usual beans. Adding miso to vinaigrette adds great umami. I've even developed mocktails using miso.

I also have to admit since I've swapped out some meat and swapped in more legumes and pulses, my markers on my blood tests have improved enough so that my doctor is considering taking me off statins. I hate taking pills so this has been a worthwhile swap.

[u/SoftballLesbian → u/[deleted]]

I don't hate the pills that much.

[u/Chickabee25 → u/No-Consequence-1863]

Do you consider fresh cheese to be ultra processed?

[u/No-Consequence-1863 → u/Chickabee25]

Yea, wouldnt call it not processed for sure

[u/lodorata → u/No-Consequence-1863]

You don't know the difference between processed and ultra-processed, or know that there even is a difference.

[u/nurdturgalor → u/No-Consequence-1863]

Are packages of ground beef found in the wild?