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Ultra-processed foods may contribute to cognitive decline

cam.mbi.ufl.edu

51–60 of 177 posts

Re: Ultra-processed foods may contribute to cognitive decline

#51
There's lots of additives in processed food, because the food processing machines require them. I guess a lot of food processing innovation is about finding new additives that makes the food sludge go through the machines a bit faster, or makes the machines clog less or require less cleaning and downtime. The food itself doesn't require those additives, and probably makes it worse in many ways.

There might be a way to prepare food without additives at scale. Basically, prepare food traditionally like a human cook but use robotics. Pick and place in parallel instead of pushing food through pipes. Not sure if viable, but I'd be more willing to eat such food even if it'd be more expensive.

Re: Ultra-processed foods may contribute to cognitive decline

#52
post #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).

Isn't flour highly processed?

Re: Ultra-processed foods may contribute to cognitive decline

#53
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…

There's bakeries with fresh baked bread all over the place in m y area, but most people would rather just get their bread with the rest of their groceries from the grocery store, where of course they're going to add preservatives. For those that want fresh baked, it's available, just not as convenient.

Re: Ultra-processed foods may contribute to cognitive decline

#54
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 think the major problem is that no one can define what "processed" means in any consistent or objective sense. It's just a retcon'd category of things people already think of as unhealthy.

Re: Ultra-processed foods may contribute to cognitive decline

#55
post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

Freshly baked bread can be hard to obtain in many parts of the US. For me if I wanted fresh baked bread every day and not make it myself, I'd be looking at like 40-60 minutes of extra time per day if I drive there every day. The closest grocery store to me is 1.5 miles away up an extremely steep hill. Shit, fresh vegetables can be hard to obtain in many parts of the US. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_desert We'…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tub6eEdmjzs

heh... we have over fresh bakery shops IN EVERY STREET so you are no more than 10 house lengths away from one. It has no yeast, around 3% is salt but is made fresh and goes bad in hours so it is consumed HOT. I wonder if stuff like our centuries old tech can be replicated in more "modern" nations?

Re: Ultra-processed foods may contribute to cognitive decline

#56
post #36

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…

"Eat food, mostly greens, not too much" -Michael Pollan Go to the supermarket and only buy things with one ingredient, cook and eat those things. What qualifies? Vegetables, fruit, rice, beans, meat, etc. ONE ingredient only. (Technically raw sugar or lard qualify to be on my list, but I think most people who passed high school know those aren't food) EDIT: well, yes raw sugar and lard are food, what I meant was you…

Not only are raw sugar and lard considered food, but they're better for you than refined sugar and refined plant oils. Of course, as with everything, the poison is in the dose.

Re: Ultra-processed foods may contribute to cognitive decline

#57
post #52
post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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).

Isn't flour highly processed?

No one knows! "Processed" doesn't have any objective definition.

Re: Ultra-processed foods may contribute to cognitive decline

#59
I follow a yeast-free diet to control an auto-immune disease called Hidradenitis suppurativa. Some doctors produced a study a while back where they found anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae autoantibodies in HS patients. When patients followed a yeast and wheat-free diet they would see 100% remission of symptoms. The hardest part of following this diet is avoiding yeast as it is a major flavor component in almost all "ultra-processed foods", especially the "healthy" ones. Vegan and plant-based foods add yeast proudly. The problem is that our bodies have an innate immune system that is coded to recognize and fight fungi. Our DNA even codes for pattern recognizers that specifically target saccharomyces cerevisiae, also known as bread/baker's yeast. It's alarming to me that scientists know with certainty that yeast is innately inflammatory, and that inflammation is the majorcause of chronic disease, but have not put it together that maybe yeast should be avoided as a food additive.

Re: Ultra-processed foods may contribute to cognitive decline

#60
post #52
post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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).

Isn't flour highly processed?

what do you mean by highly processed flour? whole wheat is not treated or anything, just dehusked if i remember and then ground down. is there something else they do to whole wheat flour these days?
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