Ultra-Processed Foods and the Rise of Chronic Disease: What Our Community Needs to Know
Across the world — and right here in Central Minnesota — chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity continue to rise. A recent report published in The Lancet highlights a major contributor to this crisis: ultra-processed foods (UPFs), which experts call a leading driver of today’s “chronic disease pandemic.”
At Aslan Health, we believe that when people understand the connection between what they eat and how they feel, they can begin to reclaim their health — mind, body, and spirit.
What Are Ultra-Processed Foods?
Ultra-processed foods include items such as:
- Sugary beverages
- Packaged snacks
- Processed meats
- Sweetened cereals
- Mass-produced breads
- Frozen or boxed ready meals
These foods often contain additives, preservatives, artificial flavors, and colors — elements not used in home cooking.
Why UPFs Are Linked to Poor Health
High consumption of UPFs has been linked to:
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Certain cancers
- Early death
These foods displace more nourishing options and can interfere with long-term wellness. At Aslan Health, we see daily how nutrition influences energy, chronic disease, emotional health, and even spiritual well-being.
A System Designed for Profit, Not Health
Experts note that the rise of UPFs is driven by the powerful influence of the food industry — an industry that prioritizes profit over public health and shapes policy and consumer behavior. Even decades of “reformulated” products haven’t slowed chronic disease rates.
This reinforces what we teach in our Whole Person Care model: true health requires whole, nourishing foods, community support, and spiritual grounding — not quick fixes.
A Hopeful Path Forward: Whole Foods & Whole-Person Wellness
Change doesn’t require perfection. It requires awareness and small, sustainable steps like:
- Adding more fresh produce
- Cooking simple meals at home
- Choosing water instead of sugary drinks
- Reducing packaged snacks
- Reading ingredient labels
These choices honor the bodies God has entrusted to us.
Together, We Can Build a Healthier Community
Reducing ultra-processed foods and embracing whole-person wellness is a journey. You don’t have to walk it alone. Aslan Health is here to provide compassionate, accessible care that helps you live healthier — body, mind, and spirit.
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Want to learn more and go deeper?
Join Us for The Lifestyle Rx — Healing Through Healthy Habits
Over the past year, Aslan Health has guided two cohorts through our Lifestyle Rx program — a 10-week, small-group experience designed to help individuals build sustainable habits that support long-term health. Participants often share how the combination of learning, cooking, movement, and group encouragement has made a real difference in their daily lives.
This January, we are launching a new cohort, offering another opportunity for individuals to walk through this transformative program together in a supportive, welcoming space.
Each week, our group gathers to:
- Learn evidence-based strategies rooted in lifestyle medicine
- Cook simple, nourishing meals and explore healthier food choices
- Move in ways that support strength, mobility, and overall well-being
- Reflect on personal habits, challenges, and progress
While the course focuses on the core pillars of lifestyle medicine, it also explores how mental and emotional well-being influence physical health — helping participants understand the interconnectedness of stress, sleep, nutrition, movement, and long-term disease prevention.
The Lifestyle Rx is a practical, hands-on program ideal for individuals looking to prevent chronic disease, improve daily functioning, or take meaningful steps toward a healthier lifestyle. And because it’s offered in a small-group format, participants gain both accountability and encouragement as they move through each week together.
If you’re ready to take the next step in your health journey, we would be honored to welcome you into our January cohort.