{"id":467702,"date":"2026-02-11T09:02:20","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T09:02:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/467702\/"},"modified":"2026-02-11T09:02:20","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T09:02:20","slug":"knowledge-doc-warns-against-5-ultra-processed-foods-most-harmful-to-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/467702\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Knowledge Doc’ warns against 5 ultra-processed foods most harmful to health"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!\n <\/p>\n

Ultra-processed foods<\/a> (UPFs) have been in the spotlight in recent months, but an expert is warning that some warrant more scrutiny than others.<\/p>\n

UPFs are industrially manufactured and contain industrial oils and additives like emulsifiers and stabilizers. They’ve been associated in some studies with higher rates of obesity, metabolic disorders and heart disease.<\/p>\n

One study last year found that cutting out UPFs could double weight loss<\/a>, while another found that UPFs are linked to chronic diseases.<\/p>\n

HIGH-POTASSIUM FOODS COULD ‘SIGNIFICANTLY’ LOWER RISK OF HEART FAILURE, STUDY FINDS<\/a><\/p>\n

Eric Berg, a Florida chiropractor and health educator<\/a> known online as “the Knowledge Doc,” shared with Fox News Digital the five UPFs he believes are the most harmful.\u00a0<\/p>\n

While Berg is not a medical doctor, he frequently comments on nutrition and lifestyle topics for an audience of over 14.4 million YouTube subscribers. See the list below.<\/p>\n

1. Ketchup<\/p>\n

Many commercial ketchups contain added sugars. When eaten frequently and in larger amounts, these may contribute to excess calorie intake, Berg said.<\/p>\n

\"Person <\/p>\n

Even small amounts of ketchup consumed regularly can increase daily sugar intake, according to a health expert. (iStock)<\/p>\n

He cited corn syrup as an especially concerning ingredient.<\/p>\n

“Even condiments like ketchup, when consumed regularly, can add up in sugar intake and potentially disrupt metabolic health,” Berg said.<\/p>\n

EATING ONE TYPE OF NUT DAILY COULD LOWER ‘BAD’ CHOLESTEROL, IMPROVE HEART HEALTH, STUDY FINDS<\/a><\/p>\n

The founder of the Berg Institute of Health & Wellness suggested checking labels and “opting for sugar-free or low-sugar alternatives.”<\/p>\n

2. Flavored yogurt<\/p>\n

Not all yogurts are created equal \u2014 and some of the “healthiest” ones in the dairy section may be packed with artificial ingredients.<\/p>\n

Added sugars, artificial sweeteners and stabilizers are all things to look out for, Berg said.<\/p>\n

\"Woman <\/p>\n

Flavored yogurts can contain added sugars, artificial sweeteners and stabilizers that outweigh their perceived health benefits. (iStock)<\/p>\n

He recommended choosing “plain, whole-food-based yogurts<\/a> and adding natural sweeteners or fresh fruit at home for a healthier option.”<\/p>\n

It’s worth noting that yogurt is considered otherwise healthy by other experts.<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER<\/a><\/p>\n

Daniel Rehal, founder of the yogurt-based probiotic supplement Zoguri, previously told Fox News Digital that dairy “becomes a true superfood when fermented with beneficial bacteria.”<\/p>\n

The health impact of yogurt depends on sugar content, ingredients and portion size.<\/p>\n

“Considering that up to 80% of your immune cells are in your gut, fermented dairy-based<\/a> probiotics become essential for both physical and mental wellness,” he said. “To me, that’s the definition of a superfood.”<\/p>\n

Nutrition experts generally say that the health impact of yogurt depends on sugar content, ingredients and portion size.<\/p>\n

3. Soda crackers<\/p>\n

Soda crackers<\/a> seem like a harmless snack, but Berg warned they’re packed with refined flours, added sugars and “unhealthy oils.”<\/p>\n

\"Man <\/p>\n

Soda crackers may seem harmless, yet they often contain refined flours, added sugars and unhealthy oils, said an expert. (iStock)<\/p>\n

Those ingredients can contribute to blood sugar spikes in some people, particularly when consumed in refined, low-fiber forms.<\/p>\n

He recommended switching them out for whole food<\/a> alternatives that offer a salty crunch.<\/p>\n

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ<\/a><\/p>\n

“Replacing soda crackers with options like almond crackers or homemade seed-based crisps can support better metabolic health and satiety,” Berg suggested.<\/p>\n

4. Candy bars<\/p>\n

Perhaps the most obviously unhealthy UPF on the list, candy bars are filled with refined starches, seed oils and artificial additives, while offering very few nutrients.<\/p>\n

Nutrition experts generally caution that frequent consumption of candy bars \u2014 which are high in added sugars and refined ingredients \u2014 may negatively affect metabolic health over time.<\/p>\n

\"Older <\/p>\n

Candy bars are made with refined starches, seed oils and artificial additives while providing few nutrients. (iStock)<\/p>\n

“Candy bars are more than just sugar,” Berg warned.\u00a0<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES<\/a><\/p>\n

“They’re a cocktail of refined starches, unhealthy oils and artificial additives that can harm metabolic and cardiovascular health.”<\/p>\n

5. Ice cream cones<\/p>\n

Yes, ice cream<\/a> cones get a spot on this list \u2014 while ice cream does not.<\/p>\n

Factory-made cones can be just as concerning as ice cream, if not more so, due to “their ultra-processed nature,” said Berg.<\/p>\n

\"Ice <\/p>\n

Refined ingredients and artificial additives commonly found in ice cream cones may worsen overall dietary quality. (iStock)<\/p>\n

“These cones are typically made from refined flours, added sugars, unhealthy oils and a range of artificial additives, offering little nutritional value and potentially compounding the negative health effects when paired with commercial ice cream,” he said.<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP<\/a><\/p>\n

“The combination of a highly processed cone and commercial ice cream can deliver a double dose of sugar, unhealthy fats and artificial ingredients.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) have been in the spotlight in recent…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":467703,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[49,48,2998,2069,84,7282,890,5651,395,112048],"class_list":["post-467702","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nutrition","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-food","tag-food-drink","tag-health","tag-healthy-foods","tag-lifestyle","tag-maha","tag-nutrition","tag-snack-foods"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/467702","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=467702"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/467702\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/467703"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=467702"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=467702"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=467702"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}