A new study has found that over 50% of the average American diet contains so-called ultra-processed foods. Study researchers reported that these foods are responsible for 90% of the excess sugar calories consumed by Americans.

Ultra-processed foods are food items containing high amount of salt, sugar, oils or fats. The researchers said that some of these foods contain chemicals that aren’t usually used in cooking, like flavorings, emulsifiers and other additives created to mimic real foods.

Lead researcher of the study, Euridice Martinez Steele, said that reduced intake of ultra-processed foods could be an effective way of cutting the excessive added sugar consumption among people in the United States. Eating fresh fruits and vegetables and introducing freshly cooked meals could help Americans cut their calorie intake.

Euridice Martinez Steele is from the department of nutrition in the School of Public Health at the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil. Steele said that ultra-processed foods include a number of items such as savory packaged snacks, sodas, sweet, candy and desserts, and many more.

The study authors said that contrary to that ‘processed’ foods are foods composed of added salt, sugar or other substances usually put in food to unprocessed or modestly processed foods, like canned foods or cheese, and simple breads.

Steele said that excessive sugar increases the vulnerability to heart disease, weight gain, obesity, type 2 diabetes and tooth decay.

Steele mentioned, “There is one relatively simple way to avoid excessive added sugar -- not replacing real food, such as minimally processed foods and freshly prepared dishes and meals, with ultra-processed food and drink products”.

Consumption of water, pasteurized fresh milk and juice of freshly squeezed fruits is suitable for avoiding excessive added sugar. Soft drinks, sweetened milk drinks and reconstituted, flavored fruit juices should not be consumed in high quantity.

Furthermore, Steele said people must avoid products that don’t demand preparation, like sandwiches, cake mixes, packaged soups, instant noodles, prepared frozen dishes, and many other items.