Food is closely intertwined with culture in Louisiana, where Mondays are celebrated with red beans and rice, “gumbo weather” is synonymous with autumn, and king cake consumption is strictly calendared.

Despite the state’s reputation as a foodie paradise, ultra-processed foods are increasingly becoming a common staple. Convenient, affordable snacks and packaged foods dominate grocery stores, and it’s difficult to walk a block without stumbling upon a fast food restaurant. The state is so-called rich “Food swamps,” or neighborhoods with plenty of unhealthy options.

Experts are sounding the alarm about the potential health risks of this class of food. Hyperprocessed foods, linked to problems like obesity, diabetes and heart disease, offer easy meal solutions but often take a toll on a person’s health.

What are ultra-processed foods?

Research shows that foods are not just the sum of their ingredients, but how they are put together is also important.

The term “ultra-processed” was coined in the 1990s by Brazilian nutritional epidemiologist Carlos Monteiro, who observed that households were purchasing less basic staples such as sugar, salt, rice and beans, and more prepackaged foods such as soda, instant noodles and packaged foods. Cookies.

As a result, Monteiro and a team of researchers from the University of São Paulo developed a food classification system that divides foods into four categories:

Since the 1990s, ultra-processed foods have become a staple in the American diet, surpassing other types of food. They’re almost making peace now According to a 2021 study, 70% of children’s diets.

Why is there concern?

Ultra-processed foods are “delicious and often inexpensive,” said obesity researcher Eric Ravussin of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge. However, they do not keep you full and deprive you of essential nutrients.

The average protein content in ultra-processed foods is about 13%, while people need about 17% to 20% protein in their diet, Ravussin said.

“To get that 17% or 20% protein, you need to eat more of these ultra-processed foods,” he said.

A typical serving of chicken wings, for example, contains 15 to 18 grams of protein, along with fillers, coating, preservatives and added fats. The same serving of grilled chicken breast contains about 31 grams of protein and no additives, making it much more nutrient dense.

The same can be said for slices of processed American cheese, which contain about 11 grams of protein per 100 grams, compared to the 25 grams of protein in cheddar cheese. This means people are consuming more sugar, unhealthy fats, salt and artificial ingredients to feel full. These ingredients make ultra-processed foods taste good, lighting up the reward centers in the brain.

But processing food can remove important nutrients and fiber. This is good for shelf life but not good for your body.

“It’s basically breaking down the food substrate into other molecules, mixing them together and putting preservatives into that food,” Ravussin said.

What does the research say?

A number of studies link ultra-processed foods to poor health. In a large review of data from 10 million people, researchers found that these foods were linked to at least 32 health problems, with the strongest evidence linking them to Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, anxiety and depression.

More evidence also points to the effects of ultra-processed foods starting in the womb.

D., chief of pediatrics at East Jefferson General Hospital, who is board-certified in childhood obesity. “Most of the risk of obesity later in life begins when you are still a fetus,” said Anthony Hudson.

Obesity-related health problems, such as heart attacks and strokes, are often viewed as adult problems, but to solve them, we need to look at childhood, Hudson said.

“The reason we have a heart attack at age 55 is not because you were malnourished in the last 10 years of your life,” said Hudson. “This is because you ate bad foods from day zero.”

This doesn’t mean that every ultra-processed food is harmful. Some, such as fiber-rich cereals or flavored yogurt, can still fit into a healthy diet. Instead, make ultra-processed foods part of a “treat” experience, like going to the movies, Hudson said.

“I try to encourage families not to bring this home,” Hudson said.