Frozen meals, chips, candy, convenience foods, and pastries are highly processed or ultra-processed foods, Johnston says. This means that many of their ingredients are heavily altered from their natural state to improve flavor, texture, or shelf life.
“Foods that are heavily processed tend to be high in sodium, preservatives, phosphorus additives, refined carbohydrates, and unhealthy fats,” she says. “Regular consumption may contribute to inflammation, weight gain, and cardiovascular disease risk, which is already elevated in many patients with chronic inflammatory conditions.”
AAV can involve the blood vessels in the kidneys, and eating large amounts of ultra-processed foods may increase your risk of developing chronic kidney disease by nearly 25 percent.
