Exam Room Nutrition: Practical Nutrition for Healthcare Professionals
Nutrition advice is everywhere. Your patients need help sorting through misinformation, and you need practical guidance for communicating nutrition clearly and compassionately. Exam Room Nutrition is the podcast for physician associates, registered dietitians, and healthcare professionals who want to stay current on nutrition and feel more confident counseling patients. Hosted by Colleen Sloan, PA-C, RDN, each episode breaks down evidence-based topics including pediatric nutrition, weight management, diabetes, supplements, sports nutrition, and more. You’ll learn how to translate the evidence into realistic recommendations without judgment, shame, or overwhelming your patients.
Whether you are a PA strengthening your nutrition knowledge or an RD sharpening your counseling skills, Exam Room Nutrition will help you bring practical, compassionate nutrition care into every patient conversation.
Exam Room Nutrition: Practical Nutrition for Healthcare Professionals
148 | Ultra-Processed Foods Explained: Science vs. Social Media
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Processed Food “Kills”. That message is everywhere right now. Social media posts, viral headlines, even Super Bowl commercials warning that processed foods are dangerous.
But what do we actually mean when we say “ultra-processed food”?
In this episode, I sit down with nutrition researcher Dr. Mandy Willig to unpack the science behind ultra-processed foods, the NOVA classification system, and why the conversation online is often missing important nuance.
We also break down new research comparing ultra-processed vs minimally processed diets, discuss whether processed foods are truly addictive, and explore how clinicians can respond when patients feel confused or fearful about what they’re eating.
What You’ll Learn
- The definition of an ultra-processed food
- How the NOVA classification system categorizes foods
- What research shows about ultra-processed diets and health outcomes
- The truth about claims that processed foods are “addictive like drugs”
- How clinicians can talk about processed foods without fear-based messaging
Any Questions? Send Me a Message
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Disclaimer: This podcast is a collection of ideas, strategies, and opinions of the author(s). Its goal is to provide useful information on each of the topics shared within. It is not intended to provide medical, health, or professional consultation or to diagnosis-specific weight or feeding challenges. The author(s) advises the reader to always consult with appropriate health, medical, and professional consultants for support for individual children and family situations. The author(s) do not take responsibility for the personal or other risks, loss, or liability incurred as a direct or indirect consequence of the application or use of information provided. All opinions stated in this podcast are my own and do not reflect the opinions of my employer.
