Are ultra-processed vegan foods healthy?

Summary

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are associated with worse health outcomes regardless of whether they are plant-based or animal-based. However, short-term clinical trials suggest that swapping processed animal products for plant-based alternatives like Beyond or Impossible can improve some cardiovascular risk markers. The key distinction is between occasional use of processed vegan foods within an otherwise whole-food diet versus a diet dominated by UPFs.