How Ultra-Processed Foods Impact Your Health

10. Reducing ultra-processed food intake

A key way to reduce ultra-processed food in your diet is to learn how to identify them.

For example, potatoes are fresh, mashed potatoes are minimally processed, and french fries are ultra-processed.

Learn to read nutritional labels, incorporate as many fresh fruits and vegetables into your diet as possible, and avoid pre-packaged snacks, meals, and frozen entrees whenever possible. Cook fresh meals at home instead of going out to eat so you know exactly what is going into your meal.

• Healthy tip: generally, the longer the list of ingredients, the more processed a food item is.