Cutting out ultra-processed foods means forgoing added ingredients like sugar, salt, fat, artificial colors and preservatives. Photo: Gresel/ShutterstockWhat happens if you eliminate ultra-processed foods (UPFs) like chips and instant soups from your diet? “It’s hard to have the hunger for real food if you’ve already eaten so many energy-dense foods throughout the day.” Conversely, exchanging UPFs for whole, healthy foods can undo cravings. How cutting out ultra-processed foods affects mental healthEating better bodes well for mental health, too. Doucleff noticed such an improvement in her own mental health that she didn’t even have to resist UPFs anymore.