Study finds that avoiding ultra-processed foods speeds up we ..

The journey toward weight loss is one of a kind — part madness, full frustration, and probably the only trip where the destination is way more fun than the ride. So here’s a little tea to spill: not all calories are created equal. Yup, science has now confirmed what your metabolism has been screaming. That granola bar? It’s not helping — unless your goal is sugar-induced chaos and a one-way ticket to prediabetes.

We’ve all heard that ultra-processed foods aren’t great for us, but a new study just hammered it in with the force of a protein bar you thought was healthy. Even when calorie counts match, what you're eating matters. Like, a lot.

So, what exactly are ultra-processed foods?
Think microwave meals, sugary cereals, soda, packaged snacks — basically anything that’s been through a lab more than your high school chemistry project. If the ingredient list reads like a science experiment, it’s probably ultra-processed.

In this new study, researchers put adults into a controlled environment and fed them two different diets — one rich in whole, minimally processed foods, and another stacked with ultra-processed meals. Both plans hit the same numbers for calories, protein, fat, and carbs. But the results? Wildly different.

After just eight weeks, the group eating the less factory, more farmers’ market diet lost more weight, shed more body fat, and had fewer cravings. Meanwhile, the ultra-processed gang hung on to the pounds — and the snack urges. The findings, published in Nature Medicine, revealed something pretty major: eating whole foods helps your body actually work the way it’s supposed to.

But wait — both diets were technically “healthy.”
Yup. According to the UK’s Eatwell Guide, both met the basic nutrition checkboxes. And yet, the minimally processed diet showed significantly better results in weight loss, fat reduction, BMI, and triglyceride levels. The only odd twist? LDL (bad) cholesterol was actually lower in the ultra-processed group — a finding researchers are still unpacking.

No, you don’t have to toss everything in your pantry.
Let’s be real — eliminating all processed food is next to impossible, especially if your life is a chaotic mix of deadlines, tuition classes, and 10-minute lunch breaks. But making just a few swaps? Totally doable.

Try this:

Trade that sugary granola bar for a handful of almonds or fresh fruit. Skip the instant noodles and make a quick rice bowl with veggies. Choose yogurt with real fruit over the neon-pink artificially flavored one.The bottom line: It’s not just about eating less. It’s about eating better.preservatives.
**This news was published on Times of India on 5th August, 2025.

 

 

 

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