Ultra-Processed Foods: What You Need to Know

So, what are ultra-processed foods?

They are foods made mostly in factories using lots of sugar, oil, salt, and chemicals to make them tasty and last longer. Examples include soft drinks, instant noodles, sausages, biscuits, and flavored chips. These foods are easy to find and save time, but they are not healthy when eaten often.

Why should you care?

Eating too much of these foods can lead to health problems like weight gain, high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. These sicknesses are becoming more common in Ghana because many people eat less home-cooked food and more fast food.

Better choices:

Eat more natural foods like beans, kontomire, plantain, and groundnuts.

Drink water instead of sugary drinks.

Try to cook at home instead of always buying ready-made food.

Check the labels — if the ingredient list is long or hard to read, it’s probably ultra-processed.

In short:

Ultra-processed foods are easy and tasty, but they can slowly harm your health. The best food is still the one cooked in your own kitchen — fresh, simple, and full of real Ghanaian goodness.