Ultra-processed foods are often linked to an increased risk of disease, according to HealthDay.
However, a new study, which will be presented at NUTRITION 2026, suggests that it may be more important to consider the overall quality of a person's diet than the extent to which their food is processed.
The study has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.
More than 200,000 participants
The researchers examined the dietary habits of nearly 204,000 American adults over several decades.
The participants were grouped according to whether their plant-based diets were healthy or unhealthy, and whether the foods they consumed were minimally processed or ultra-processed.
The analysis found that people who followed a healthy plant-based diet had a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and premature death.
This was true for both minimally processed and ultra-processed foods.
According to the study, people with an unhealthy plant-based diet, on the other hand, had a higher risk of disease regardless of how processed their food was.
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Quality over processing
The findings therefore suggest that the nutritional quality of foods may be more important than the degree of processing.
Healthy plant-based foods can be a good choice even if they are ultra-processed, while less processed foods are not necessarily healthy if they are low in nutrients.
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