For weight loss, minimally processed diets beat ultra-processed versions
Research we're watching
- Reviewed by Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
British researchers provided 55 adults who were overweight or obese (average age 43, 91% women) with meals for two diets. One diet emphasized minimally processed foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and unprocessed meats, while the other consisted of ultra-processed foods often considered healthy, such as whole-grain breakfast cereals, flavored yogurt, and protein bars. Half the participants followed the minimally processed diet for two months, their normal diets for one month, and then the ultra-processed diet for two months. The other half followed the diets in the opposite order. All participants could eat as much as they wished.
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About the Author
Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch
About the Reviewer
Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
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