Research
Mixed
Avoiding all highly processed foods (HPF) can lead to unintended nutritional deficiencies, such as inadequate fiber and folic acid, because many healthy foods like whole grain bread and ready-to-eat cereals are classified as HPF.
Do not avoid all processed foods. Include whole grain bread, ready-to-eat cereals, and yogurt in your diet, as they provide essential nutrients like fiber and folic acid. Focus on choosing processed foods low in sodium, saturated fat, and added sugars.
GoodQualifiesHIGH confidence
However, under the NOVA classification 91% of Canadian grain-based foods meet the definition of ultra-processed (Gupta et al. 2019). Avoiding grain products may result in other health challenges such as inadequate intakes of dietary fibre and folic acid.
Why this rating
The paper cites studies showing lower fiber intakes in those who consume no grains and health benefits of ready-to-eat cereals.
Source
Guidance and perspectives on highly processed foods
Shirin Panahi et al. · Applied Physiology Nutrition and Metabolism · 2022
DOI 10.1139/apnm-2022-0150
narrative_reviewCited 4×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Highly processed foods (HPF) contribute to excess sodium, saturated fat, and added sugars, which are strongly associated with negative health outcomes including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.Good
- In clinical settings such as hospitals and long-term care, highly processed foods (HPF) are necessary to prevent malnutrition, support recovery, and improve quality of life for residents with poor appetite, chewing, or swallowing difficulties.Good
Related findings · Mixed
- Bariatric surgery (VSG and RYGB) is the most effective and sustainable treatment for obesity, producing marked and sustained weight loss that non-surgical interventions cannot match.Strong
- Severely protein-deficient diets (2–3% energy) induce lean body mass loss and metabolic imbalance, whereas adequate protein intake (0.66 g/kg/d minimum) is a prerequisite for maintaining muscle, bone, and physiological function.Strong
- For patients with Class III obesity (BMI >39.9 kg/m2), metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) is significantly more effective than any currently approved medication, with BilioPancreatic Diversion (BPD) showing the highest estimated weight loss.Strong
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →