Can ultra-processed foods actually be good for you?

[Retro]

Well, can they?

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) have hit the headlines around the world this year, with studies blaming them for everything from weight gain to early death.

UPFs are industrially-made food such as ice-cream, breakfast cereal and biscuits – and almost 60% of calorie intake in the UK is believed to come from them.

This year, a huge amount of media attention has focused on ultra-processed foods, with TV doctor Chris Van Tulleken eating a UPF-heavy diet, and documenting how it gave him sleep problems and made him gain weight.

One study has suggested that UPFs could be responsible for 10% of deaths in people aged 30 to 69.

That's not a good start, but read on.


Yummy! Can I have one?

Can ultra-processed foods actually be good for you?

UPFs have hit the headlines around the world this year, with studies blaming them for everything from weight gain to early death.

uk.news.yahoo.com

 

[Retro]

Here's more on this.

UPFs are not necessarily harmful:

Some ultra-processed foods are good for your health, WHO-backed study finds

Bread and cereals – which are heavily processed – reduce risk of multimorbidity due to fibre content

www.theguardian.com

Or are they?

Ultra-processed foods linked to 30 dangerous health outcomes

Experts explain exactly how to limit your UPF intake.

uk.style.yahoo.com

Aaarrrgghh!!

This whole subject is a minefield of conflicting information. However, the bad stuff is still true, especially when it comes to sausages, fried food and sugary food, so don't think they're off the hook for harmful effects. Best to try to minimise consumption.

 

[Tiffany]

Well, those articles were conflicting, weren't they? The only point I can add is the recommendation not to mix a sugary or high carbohydrate food (that turns to sugar) with a fatty food in one sitting because you create a very sticky substance which may cause artery clogging plaque later.

Also, the benefit of daily exercise is amazing.

 

[live627]

Conflicting and doctored studies are put out on purpose so that people get confused and give up in exacerbation and ultimately buy that trash anyway like they always did. Meanwhile, both quality and quantity have been reduced while prices keep going up. Poor wallets.

 

[Tiffany]

Conflicting and doctored studies are put out on purpose so that people get confused and give up in exacerbation and ultimately buy that trash anyway like they always did. Meanwhile, both quality and quantity have been reduced while prices keep going up. Poor wallets.

Totally agree, which is why our family takes a tedious amount of time reviewing ingredients lists on products. Good nutritionists say that if it has an ingredients list and you didn't find it on the outside aisle of the store, you shouldn't be eating it as it's processed. I do also feel sorry for everyone's grocery budget as the cost for food has become seriously outrageous.