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Ultra-processed foods may contribute to cognitive decline

cam.mbi.ufl.edu

21–30 of 177 posts

Re: Ultra-processed foods may contribute to cognitive decline

#21
post #15

This article is somewhat pointless. It cites two studies, one which found correlations between ultra-processed food and cognitive decline, and one which found that it does not. It concludes that more research is needed.

"People are studying a thing, though nothing conclusive yet" is still a point, and a moderately useful one even.

Re: Ultra-processed foods may contribute to cognitive decline

#22
post #5

> Even packaged breads, including those high in nutritious whole grains, qualify as ultra-processed in many cases because of the additives and preservatives they contain. However much I'd like to alter my diet to be more healthy, including flavored nuts or bread as ultraprocessed means I have nearly zero chance avoiding a sizable portion of what academic scientists label as ultraprocessed. These studies and press rel…

Just an aside: countertop bread machines are amazing these days. You can control the ingredients (i.e. eliminate preservatives) and have wildly inexpensive, fresh bread since you can buy breadflour in bulk (e.g. 50-lb bags).

Re: Ultra-processed foods may contribute to cognitive decline

#23
post #5

> Even packaged breads, including those high in nutritious whole grains, qualify as ultra-processed in many cases because of the additives and preservatives they contain. However much I'd like to alter my diet to be more healthy, including flavored nuts or bread as ultraprocessed means I have nearly zero chance avoiding a sizable portion of what academic scientists label as ultraprocessed. These studies and press rel…

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Re: Ultra-processed foods may contribute to cognitive decline

#24
post #5

> Even packaged breads, including those high in nutritious whole grains, qualify as ultra-processed in many cases because of the additives and preservatives they contain. However much I'd like to alter my diet to be more healthy, including flavored nuts or bread as ultraprocessed means I have nearly zero chance avoiding a sizable portion of what academic scientists label as ultraprocessed. These studies and press rel…

I'm not sure what the situation in many parts of the US is, but is not freshly baked bread, the kind with unsurprising ingredients and that goes stale when you'd expect it, not an option? The stuff made to sit on the supermarket's shelf for long times has such an odd consistency and flavor, very spongy and very tangy and sweet, you can't spread anything on it without toasting it first. I wouldn't take it as the stand…

"that goes stale when you'd expect it". Super dumb question, but would fresh baked bread placed in the freezer last a few weeks ? I don't buy fresh baked out of concern most of it will get thrown away.

Re: Ultra-processed foods may contribute to cognitive decline

#25

Oof, what exactly is "ultra processed food", because as far as I can tell it's "whatever seems bad". How much "processing" a potato chip gets (slice, fry, salt) is a whole lot different than one of the meat substitute burgers. It seems like anything done on an industrial scale is evil and anything done in your kitchen is fine, despite the two being very similar in many cases. Either there's a problem with specific in…

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Re: Ultra-processed foods may contribute to cognitive decline

#26
post #5

> Even packaged breads, including those high in nutritious whole grains, qualify as ultra-processed in many cases because of the additives and preservatives they contain. However much I'd like to alter my diet to be more healthy, including flavored nuts or bread as ultraprocessed means I have nearly zero chance avoiding a sizable portion of what academic scientists label as ultraprocessed. These studies and press rel…

> I have nearly zero chance avoiding a sizable portion of what academic scientists label as ultraprocessed.

You can, you've just prioritized taste/convenience over your health. Going into a supermarket and looking at what people put into their carts pretty much confirms this.

> a lot of people are going to struggle to understand what isn't ultraprocessed

Maybe read the labels? Also buying the cheapest thing there (w/o reading the labels) is also not a good idea.

If you're buying nuts and it has nut-x, plus a whole bunch of salt, a whole bunch of sugar, plus a whole bunch of chemicals that one glosses over, then there's a big chance that it's ultra-processed and/or something you shouldn't eat/buy.

Buying nuts in bulk is probably the best. Adding you're own spices/favors will make it super apparent on what you're consuming.

Food companies are trying to maximize profits, shelf life by adding crap to make the cheapest product. It's been obvious for a very long time.

Re: Ultra-processed foods may contribute to cognitive decline

#27
post #5

> Even packaged breads, including those high in nutritious whole grains, qualify as ultra-processed in many cases because of the additives and preservatives they contain. However much I'd like to alter my diet to be more healthy, including flavored nuts or bread as ultraprocessed means I have nearly zero chance avoiding a sizable portion of what academic scientists label as ultraprocessed. These studies and press rel…

I'm not sure what the situation in many parts of the US is, but is not freshly baked bread, the kind with unsurprising ingredients and that goes stale when you'd expect it, not an option? The stuff made to sit on the supermarket's shelf for long times has such an odd consistency and flavor, very spongy and very tangy and sweet, you can't spread anything on it without toasting it first. I wouldn't take it as the stand…

Agreed. I just can't eat the bread in stores (for me to too sweet) and I'm a big bread person.

It's remarkable easy to bake your own bread (as many tried in during the pandemic). Yeah, it takes time, but it's a good way to reduce your carbs intake. i.e. if you don't bake it, you can't eat it.

Re: Ultra-processed foods may contribute to cognitive decline

#28
Science has found that we have a slew of beneficial bacteria in our gut. Further, fostering and encouraging particular strains of bacteria have a positive effect on our mood and health. Now, for the leading question; what do preservatives do? How do they affect that bacteria?

Seems simple enough to me.

Re: Ultra-processed foods may contribute to cognitive decline

#29
post #16

Oof, what exactly is "ultra processed food", because as far as I can tell it's "whatever seems bad". How much "processing" a potato chip gets (slice, fry, salt) is a whole lot different than one of the meat substitute burgers. It seems like anything done on an industrial scale is evil and anything done in your kitchen is fine, despite the two being very similar in many cases. Either there's a problem with specific in…

> How much "processing" a potato chip gets (slice, fry, salt)... There may be additional steps when a factory makes potato chips. [1] 1 When the potatoes arrive at the plant, they are examined and tasted for quality. A half dozen or so buckets are randomly filled. Some are punched with holes in their cores so that they can be tracked through the cooking process. The potatoes are examined for green edges and blemishes…

However, a factory made Veggie Burger seems to have fewer processing steps than that potato chip. [1]

1 Grains and vegetables are loaded into separate machines for thorough cleansing to remove dirt, bacteria created by spoilage, chemical residue, and any other foreign materials that may exist. Some factories have conveyer belts that move the food products under high-pressure sprayers. Others use hollow drums that tumble the food while water is sprayed on it.

2 The base grain, whether it be whole wheat, rice, or beans, is cooked in large vats of water until softened. The resulting puree is strained, separating the product from excess water, and any remaining foreign matter.

3 The vegetables are diced into tiny pieces. In some factories, this is done by a machine that is calibrated to slice the vegetables into uniform sizes. Other, smaller companies, still do this by hand.

4 Pre-measured amounts of the grain puree and the diced vegetables are combined into an industrial mixing bowl that blends the ingredients thoroughly.

5 The mixture is then loaded into an automatic patty-making machine, or press. The press is a cylindrical device with several stacks of round molds topped by a plunger. When the plunger is depressed, the ground mixture is formed into patties.

6 The patties are loaded onto perforated baking trays, then placed in an oven for about an hour and a half at a preset temperature. Patties are quick-frozen

7 The trays are loaded into a freezing chamber in which the temperature is below the freezing point of 32° F (0° C). The goal is to freeze the patties in 30 minutes or less. Because vegetables contain a jelly-like protoplasm, the speedy processes promotes the formation of ice crystals through the tissues. When the patties are cooked, the water is reabsorbed as the ice crystals melt.

8 The patties are conveyed to a vacuum-packing machine which envelopes the patties in pre-measured plastic sleeves, drawing out the excess air and sealing each end. Then, they are loaded into pre-printed cardboard packages, usually four patties to a package. The frozen varieties are kept in temperature-controlled refrigerated compartments before and during shipment.

[1] http://www.madehow.com/Volume-5/Vegetarian-Burger.html

Re: Ultra-processed foods may contribute to cognitive decline

#30

Oof, what exactly is "ultra processed food", because as far as I can tell it's "whatever seems bad". How much "processing" a potato chip gets (slice, fry, salt) is a whole lot different than one of the meat substitute burgers. It seems like anything done on an industrial scale is evil and anything done in your kitchen is fine, despite the two being very similar in many cases. Either there's a problem with specific in…

“Processed food” is like many other such words, like “chemicals”, which strictly can mean anything, but is only used when you want to imply badness. And any advice like “Avoid processed food” or “Avoid chemicals” sound like they mean something, but actually don’t.
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