Processed foods are everywhere. It’s not feasible to try and avoid them entirely, but cutting the use of them down as much as possible is part of a healthy lifestyle. That way you incorporate more non-processed, natural, and organic ingredients into your diet, and your body will love you for it.

But what happens when you don’t pay mind to the amount of ultra processed foods that make up your daily meals? These are foods that have had a lot of modification, and are made to be very tasty and easy to eat.
But even with the flavor and convenience of these items, your body can have some very adverse reactions to them. Indeed, with so much ultra processed food on the plate, many people may have to deal with issues like these.
Your Teeth Will Be at Risk
Ultra processed foods tend to be quite horrible for your teeth. These foods tend to have more sugar in them and can be more acidic, both of which are bad news for the enamel that guards your chompers.
It’s why people who eat a lot of prepackaged food tend to have to see an emergency dentist more often. Cavities appear more frequently, as dental bacteria likes sugar and most acids are sugar based.
More sugar means more plaque and a higher chance of erosion and gum disease. Brushing and flossing is only part of the puzzle; you have to watch what you’re chewing as well!
Your Gut Will Feel Off
You can never be quite sure what’s been put into food that’s been processed. You can read the ingredient list on the back of a packet, but without the knowledge of a highly trained chemist, a lot of these words won’t mean anything.
And if you don’t know what processes a product has gone through, and you’ve little clue what additives have been mixed in, you can’t be sure how your gut is going to react.
Whether you have an allergy or you’re intolerant of something, or simply because something is hard to digest, a processed diet can lead to more bloating, more frequent trips to the toilet, and even aches and pains.

You’ll Face a Bigger Chance of Developing a Long Term Conditions
We all have the chance of developing a long term condition at some point in life, but people who eat a lot of unhealthy and ultra processed foods may have a higher chance of this.
Type 2 diabetes, for example, or even heart disease, are two common conditions that are frequently diagnosed from middle age onwards and are diet/lifestyle related.
Food choices can have a big impact on the development and prognosis of these conditions. Aiming to investigate your diet and cut back on sources of sugar and brands that use ultra process methods is a good plan for the future.
If you don’t have enough non-processed food in your diet, your body may have a harder time as you get older.
Updated: October 18, 2024 by Michael Kahn