Ultra-processed women.
How is Our Ultra-Processed World Impacting Women’s Health?
If you’re interested in living life in a less ultra-processed way, listen to this week’s Brave New Girls podcast guest, Milli Hill. She’s an investigative journalist specialising in women’s health, founder of the Positive Birth Movement, and author of The Positive Birth Book, Give Birth Like a Feminist, and My Period. Her latest book? The game-changing Ultra-Processed Women.
Milli’s message is that we’ve been sold a con. Convenience, cheapness, variety- these promises have trapped us in a toxic relationship with ultra-processed food. It’s not just food. It’s edible products engineered for profit, not nourishment, and they’re making us sick.
What Does Ultra-Processed Really Mean?
It’s not just food that’s chopped or cooked. Humans have always processed food. Ultra-processed is different. It’s made in factories using additives, emulsifiers, gums- ingredients that don’t belong in your kitchen, as well as extra SOS: sugar, oils, salt. These products are designed for shelf life, consistency, and company profit- not your health.
Think thick and creamy yoghurt? Often it’s not cream but chemical thickeners. That “healthy” bar? Ultra-processed, packed with fillers. It’s a food-like product, not real food.
Why Women Should Care
Women’s health has been medicalised and pathologised for decades. Painful periods? Menopause symptoms? Anxiety? We’ve been told our bodies are broken. But what if diet is a huge part of the story?
Milli’s research shows ultra-processed diets link to inflammatory conditions, hormone disruption, gut imbalance, and mental health struggles- issues women face more often than men. Seventy percent of autoimmune cases are women. Twice the rates of anxiety and depression. And UPF plays a part.
Milli’s Wake-Up Call
Writing this book changed Milli’s life. She stopped craving UPF. No more tubes of Pringles. No more packet cakes. She broke up with Ben & Jerry’s and hasn’t looked back. It wasn’t overnight, and it wasn’t perfect- but small swaps changed everything. And that’s her message: Start small. It matters.
Brave New Girl- How to Be Fearless.
10 Actionable Steps for a better future.
Stop fizzy drinks first. Just that can be a game changer.
Switch sliced bread for sourdough or bakery loaves.
Cook one more meal a week from scratch. Keep it simple- grilled fish, new potatoes, salad.
Check labels for emulsifiers, gums, and fake thickeners.
Batch cook once a week. Freeze portions so real food is ready fast.
Snack on whole foods. Nuts, fruit, vegetables. Easy wins.
Stock your fridge with colour. Fill it with fresh veg first.
Plan your swaps. Replace just one UPF item at a time.
Cook as connection. Make it creative. Bring back shared meals.
Reframe it. You’re not giving up- you’re reclaiming real food and real health.
Bottom line: We don’t have to overhaul our lives. Start small, feel better, and break the toxic relationship with factory food. Your body and your brain will thank you.
PS. Listen HERE to MILLI’S journey on BRAVE NEW GIRLS podcast to hear how she helps us create well beings on a well planet.
