The term “ultra-processed food” has become a catch-all label, but not all highly processed foods are created equal. When you look more closely at the science, the picture is more complex. Some processed foods clearly drive poor metabolic health, they are energy-dense, rapidly absorbed, and often contain additives that may disrupt the gut microbiome. Others, despite being processed, do not show the same effects and can even benefit health. The challenge is that existing classifications group all