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Today, we're demystifying the labels in your pantry. We've all been told to avoid "ultra-processed foods" (UPFs), but what does that actually mean? Almost all food is processed for safety, but there's a massive difference between a bag of frozen strawberries and a chemistry project masquerading as a protein bar.

In this episode, we explore:

• The Four Categories: From minimally processed whole foods to the industrial formulations designed for profit, not health.
• The Bliss Point: How food scientists override your brain's full signal to create hyper-palatable addiction.
• Systemic Inflammation: Why your stiff joints might actually start in the middle aisles of the grocery store.
• Simple Lifestyle Shifts: My favorite strategies, like the Five-Ingredient Rule and the Swap, Don't Stop method, to reclaim your energy.

Your refrigerator should be your medicine cabinet. This week, I challenge you to swap just one UPF for a whole-food alternative. You have the power to influence the inflammation in your body. You can do this! Stay Healthy California 

References:

1. Monteiro, C. A., et al. (2019). The UN FAO report on Ultra-processed foods, diet quality, and health. 2. Cell Metabolism. (2019). Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain. (The Hall et al. Study).
2. British Medical Journal (BMJ). (2024). Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes.
3. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Distinguishing between processed and ultra-processed.

Thank you for listening to Healthy California.

If you have tried all my suggestions and are still having trouble with your health, and would like an appointment with me, please email me, text, or call me via the contact information below.

My contact:

Linda Brown, MPT, Doctoral Candidate Functional Nutrition

916-426-2543

linda@heal-throughfood.com

www.heal-throughfood.com