Ultra-Processed Foods in Midlife: Your Body Knows the Difference

We've gotten so used to packaged foods that we don't even question them. We are all so busy, we don't even pay attention, the packaging looks appealing, we see wording that catches our eyes, and we just buy it. If the package say's "high protein", "low sugar", or "healthy" we assume it's doing something good for us.

But your body knows the difference, or it should, and you should be getting clues, telling you this food isn't good for me.

Believe me, it knows the difference between real food... and something that was designed to look like it. As we get older our taste buds dull, and you might not notice, but all the processing of foods is doing us harm. I know reading labels is not something you want to do when you are shopping, but you really should read them and make an informed choice, we are not made for all the chemicals. Our bodies, digestive tracts are simply not made for this. How many people do you know that have digestive issues, I know more people who suffer with a chronic health issue, then don't and the ultra-processed have some of the blame.

This isn't about being perfect or cutting everything out. We do have to learn to make swaps. It's about understanding why so many people feel tired, hungry, or off- even when they think they're doing everything right. Food is supposed to give us energy, and keep our bodies moving, and aging gracefully.

Ultra-processed foods are industrial manufactured products that are in all or most foods sold at stores, including, flavorings, preservatives, and artificial additives, while including high amounts sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats. It might be ok to have one food per day that's processed, if you look at it like say you have a protein bar every day, but it's the three meals a day, where more than likely, you are eating a lot more processed food. You've heard people say our "grandparents" would be shocked at the food now, and they would, they probably wouldn't eat it. Consumption of ultra-processed foods is linked to many negative health outcomes, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. I have a very strong feeling that the chemicals in our food have some role in causing people to become obese. Ultra-processed food basically includes everything; it's almost in every aisle of your grocery store. A lot of what we're eating today isn't just food-it's a version of food that's been enhanced, changed, and engineered.

Your body is incredibly smart. It knows when something is nourishing...and when something is just filling space.

That's why you can eat something labeled "healthy" and still feel:

• low on energy

• craving more

• unsatisfied

This isn't lack of willpower- it's a mismatch.

In midlife, this matters even more.

Hormones are already shifting.

Energy isn't as steady as it once was.

Recovery takes longer.

So, when ultra-processed foods are part of the daily diet, the effects tend to show up faster-and feel stronger. In turn, this causes more energy crashes, more weight gain, and more inflammation.

It's not that people don't care about their health. It's that we've been given food that looks like the right choice...but isn't. Packaged, marketed, convenient.... but not supportive.

So don't throw everything out, but start here:

• Choose foods with fewer ingredients

• Eat more things that don't need labels

• Cook simple wholesome meals more often

• Pay attention to how you actually feel after eating

Your body isn't broken.

It's responding to what it's being given, and it's up to you to make smarter choices.

Your body knows the difference.

Sometimes we just have to start listening again.

Heather