41–50 of 345 posts
Earlier quoted context omitted.
For me personally: if (foodItem.ingredientList.size()>9) {return false;} else if (foodItem.inventedYearsAgo() So I can eat a baguette prepared traditionally, and a few brands of prepared bread from the grocery store.
I think Polan said something like "If your great grandparents didn't have it, it's probably not good for you" and I think that's a pretty good rule of thumb.
This statistic from the article is mind-boggling: > Ultra-processed products now account for nearly half of the average dietary intake of some high income countries, with consumption rising rapidly in most other countries. Note that they aren't just referring to processed foods. They classify ultra-processed foods as a step beyond what we typically think of as processed foods: > Ultra-processed foods and beverages ca…
If half of our food is ultraprocessed, then that's a problem with the definition of ultraprocessed. Breakfast cereal is "ultraprocessed" by the definition of the article. But Grain Berry cereal is going to be grossly different from a nutritional perspective than Frosted Flakes. For both to be lumped into the same category of "ultraprocessed" is a bit ridiculous. ----------- Its not like "processing" makes something m…
Why? Just because we consume a lot of it does not mean it is not "ultraprocessed". We should be afraid of a name just because a lot of modern food falls into the definition.
People throwing out "processed food" as some catch-all term for packaged stuff that is bad for you is a major pet peeve of mine. Yes, foods that are pre-packaged tend not to be good for you. You _should_ eat fresh foods and vegetables. But saying that all "processed" foods are bad for you is a gross oversimplifcation that promotes ignorance about nutrition. In the many conversations I've had about processed foods, pe…
Which is why the headline emphasis this is in reference to "ultra-processed" foods and they further go on to define ultra-processed as: Ultra-processed foods and beverages can be defined as products with additives and industrially processed ingredients that have been technologically broken down and modified.7 They are not merely processed foods with high levels of sugar, salt, and fat but also contain ingredients and…
What constitutes a synthetic flavor? Is vanilla extract an example or do you have to go further than that?
Emulsifiers are things that actually get used in regular cooking. According to https://www.thespruceeats.com/what-does-emulsify-mean-480592.... egg yolks and honey are both emulsifiers. Based on how that sentence is phrased, you'd think that an emulsifier is something synthesized chemical that the average chef has never heard of.
Hydrogenated oils and soy protein isolates have long been recognized as things to avoid, so their inclusion in the list is not a surprise.
Like I said, the definition is overbroad and does little to help someone like me actually identify things that are very bad for me. I already know eating a bag of Doritos for dinner is not a great idea. What sort of food items do you typically see these nutritional monsters hiding out in? Are they so awful that they shouldn't be enjoyed even as a once-in-a-while indulgence?
The article specifically mentions Coca Cola and Mars, among others. I mean golly gee, thanks for the big brain insight. Are there people out there who didn't know that soda and candy bars are not paragons of nutrition?
The article states that : Ultra-processed products now account for nearly half of the average dietary intake of some high income countries, with consumption rising rapidly in most other countries. I've never lived for more than 1-2 months in any of these "high income countries". What does it mean to consume "ultra-processed" food? Can someone give an example how the daily dietary intake can be 50% processed foods? Wh…
Ingredients: ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, VITAMIN B1 [THIAMIN MONONITRATE], VITAMIN B2 [RIBOFLAVIN], FOLIC ACID), CORN SYRUP, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, DEXTROSE, SOYBEAN AND PALM OIL (WITH TBHQ FOR FRESHNESS), CRACKER MEAL, CONTAINS TWO PERCENT OR LESS OF WHEAT STARCH, SALT, DRIED STRAWBERRIES, DRIED PEARS, DRIED APPLES, LEAVENING (BAKING SODA, SODIUM ACID PYROPHOSPHATE, MONOCALCIUM PHOSPHATE), CITRIC ACID, CARAMEL COLOR, SOY LECITHIN, XANTHAN GUM, MODIFIED WHEAT STARCH, VITAMIN A PALMITATE, RED 40, NIACINAMIDE, REDUCED IRON, VITAMIN B6 (PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE), YELLOW 6, VITAMIN B2 (RIBOFLAVIN), VITAMIN B1 (THIAMIN HYDROCHLORIDE).
Or a blueberry muffin:
INGREDIENTS: Blueberry Muffin (Bleached Enriched Flour [Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid], Sugar, Water, Soybean Oil, Whole Eggs, Blueberries, Modified Food Starch [Corn], Contains 2% or Less of Each of the Following: Salt, Emulsifier [Propylene Glycol Esters, Mono- and Diglycerides, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate], Nonfat Dry Milk, Sodium Aluminum Phosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Cellulose Gum, Natural and Artificial Flavor [Milk], Sodium Caseinate [Milk], Xanthan Gum, Egg Whites, Soy Flour), Confectioners Sugar (Sugar, Carnauba Wax). CONTAINS WHEAT, EGG, MILK AND SOY INGREDIENTS. Produced in a facility that uses tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, milk, and eggs.
For lunch, consider a frozen beef and bean burrito:
Ingredients: WATER, ENRICHED FLOUR (BLEACHED WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), BEEF, PINTO BEANS, VEGETABLE OIL (SOYBEAN, CANOLA AND/OR CORN OIL), CONTAINS 2% OR LESS, TEXTURED VEGETABLE PROTEIN, TOMATO PASTE, SPICES, JALAPENO PUREE (JALAPENO PEPPERS, WATER, CITRIC ACID), GARLIC POWDER, CHILI PEPPER, BAKING POWDER (SODIUM BICARBONATE, CORN STARCH, SODIUM ALUMINUM SULFATE, CALCIUM SULFATE, MONOCALCIUM PHOSPHATE), SOY SAUCE (WATER, SOYBEANS, WHEAT, SALT), MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, ONION, DOUGH CONDITIONER (SODIUM METABISULFITE, CORN STARCH, MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE, DICALCIUM PHOSPHATE), SALT, GUAR GUM, PAPRIKA.
Or a bologna sandwich:
Bologna: Ingredients: Mechanically Separated Chicken, Pork, Water, Corn Syrup, Contains Less Than 2% Of Salt, Ground Mustard Seed, Sodium Phosphates, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Propionate, Sodium Diacetate, Beef, Sodium Benzoate, Flavor, Sodium Ascorbate, Sodium Nitrite, Hydrolyzed Beef Stock, Autolyzed Yeast, Dextrose, Extractives Of Paprika, Sodium Lactate, Potassium Lactate, Celery Seed Extract.
White bread: Ingredients: Unbleached Enriched Flour (Wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Yeast, Contains 2% or Less of Each of the Following: Calcium Carbonate, Soybean Oil, Wheat Gluten, Salt, Dough Conditioners (Contains One or More of the Following: Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Calcium Stearoyl Lactylate, Monoglycerides, Mono- and Diglycerides, Distilled Monoglycerides, Calcium Peroxide, Calcium Iodate, DATEM, Ethoxylated Mono- and Diglycerides, Enzymes, Ascorbic Acid), Vinegar, Monocalcium Phosphate, Yeast Extract, Modified Corn Starch, Sucrose, Sugar, Soy Lecithin, Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3), Soy Flour, Ammonium Sulfate, Calcium Sulfate, Calcium Propionate (to Retard Spoilage).
And follow it up with a Fried Chicken Dinner:
Boneless Fried White Meat Chicken Patties (Cooked White Meat Chicken, Water, Enriched Wheat Flour [Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid], Vegetable Oil (Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil [TBHQ and Citric Acid to Preserve Freshness]), Mechanically Separated Chicken, Chicken Skins, Soy Protein Concentrate, Salt, Sodium Phosphates, Monosodium Glutamate, Dextrose, Spice Extract, Isolated Oat Product). Mashed Potatoes (Water, Dehydrated Potato Flakes (Potatoes, Mono and Diglycerides, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Citric Acid), Seasoning Sauce (Vegetable Oil (Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil [TBHQ and Citric Acid to Preserve Freshness]), Water, Mono and Diglycerides with BHT and Citric Acid to Protect Flavor, Beta Carotene for Color (Corn Oil, Dl-Alpha-Tocopherol)), Contains 2% or Less of: Salt, Dried Dairy Blend (Whey, Calcium Caseinate)), Corn. Brownie (Sugar, Water, Enriched Wheat Flour [Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid], Vegetable Oil (Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil [TBHQ and Citric Acid to Preserve Freshness]), Cocoa, Eggs. Seasoning Sauce (Vegetable Oil (Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil [TBHQ and Citric Acid to Preserve Freshness]), Water, Mono and Diglycerides with BHT and Citric Acid to Protect Flavor, Beta Carotene for Color (Corn Oil, Dl-Alpha-Tocopherol)), Acacia and Xanthan Gums, Sodium Bicarbonate (Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil), Salt, Natural and Artificial Flavor [Water, Propylene Glycol, Ethanol, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Caramel Color, Vanilla Extractives]), Seasoning Sauce (Water, Sugar, Seasoning Sauce (Vegetable Oil (Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil [TBHQ and Citric Acid to Preserve Freshness]), Water, Mono and Diglycerides with BHT and Citric Acid to Protect Flavor, Beta Carotene for Color (Corn Oil, Dl-Alpha-Tocopherol)), Salt, Vegetable Oil (Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil [TBHQ and Citric Acid to Preserve Freshness])).
These weren't even picked for their egregiousness. This is the norm for the food culture of the working class in America. All of American processed food is like this. Add that it's packaged in frequently toxic plastics and contaminated with pesticides, and it's clear that this is the lead pipes of the American empire.
This statistic from the article is mind-boggling: > Ultra-processed products now account for nearly half of the average dietary intake of some high income countries, with consumption rising rapidly in most other countries. Note that they aren't just referring to processed foods. They classify ultra-processed foods as a step beyond what we typically think of as processed foods: > Ultra-processed foods and beverages ca…
Food companies have led very good marketing campaigns for many years telling people that “cooking is SO difficult and SUCH A PAIN. Just buy our prepackaged food which is so much easier.” Unfortunately when so many people buy into it, it impacts those who don’t. Lately I’ve noticed that basic bags of frozen vegetables are being replaced with “ready to steam” bags that contain half as much quantity for the same price.
People throwing out "processed food" as some catch-all term for packaged stuff that is bad for you is a major pet peeve of mine. Yes, foods that are pre-packaged tend not to be good for you. You _should_ eat fresh foods and vegetables. But saying that all "processed" foods are bad for you is a gross oversimplifcation that promotes ignorance about nutrition. In the many conversations I've had about processed foods, pe…
> teach them about the major nutrients the body needs and where you can get those The school system teaches students about the major nutrients the body needs, and what common foods include those. The corporations use major nutrients in advertising products that also contain lots of unnecessary ingredients, and that marketing works. That's actually a large portion of what this article describes.
You could go a long way with "eat a diverse diet, prefer vegetables".
Earlier quoted context omitted.
For me personally: if (foodItem.ingredientList.size()>9) {return false;} else if (foodItem.inventedYearsAgo() So I can eat a baguette prepared traditionally, and a few brands of prepared bread from the grocery store.
I think Polan said something like "If your great grandparents didn't have it, it's probably not good for you" and I think that's a pretty good rule of thumb.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm curious, what's your cut off point for processed food? Just things that are ready to eat besides fruits and veggies? What about white flour and rice as opposed to whole grains?
The claims that it is better to eat whole grains than white rice or white flour are very wrong (when the claims have no context). Obviously, if you had been some poor peasant and 80% of your food consisted of cereals, then eating whole grains would have been immensely better than eating just white rice or white flour. On the other hand, if you eat a wide variety of foods, you can get any minerals, vitamins and protei…
Can you elaborate as to why the more processed variants are preferable? What is inherently we worse about whole grains and why do the general recommendations get it wrong?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think Polan said something like "If your great grandparents didn't have it, it's probably not good for you" and I think that's a pretty good rule of thumb.
Hot Pockets are a rebranding of meat pies, which have been around since medieval times.
Ingredients: ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, MALTED BARLEY FLOUR, NIACIN, IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), WATER, COOKED BEEF PATTIE CRUMBLES (BEEF HAMBURGER, WATER, TEXTURED VEGETABLE PROTEIN [SOY FLOUR, CARAMEL COLOR], SOY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, LESS THAN 2% OF THE FOLLOWING: SALT, SPICE, NATURAL FLAVORS, DEXTROSE, YEAST EXTRACT, ONION POWDER, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, SODIUM TRIPOLYPHOSPHATE), REDUCED FAT CHEDDAR CHEESE (PASTEURIZED PART SKIM MILK, SKIM MILK, MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, CULTURES, SALT, FLAVORS, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, ANNATTO, VITAMIN A PALMITATE, ENZYMES, INGREDIENTS NOT IN REGULAR CHEDDAR CHEESE), KETCHUP (TOMATO PUREE [TOMATO PASTE, WATER], CORN SWEETENER [HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, CORN SYRUP], VINEGAR, SALT, SEASONING [SPICES, SALT, NATURAL FLAVORS, ONION POWDER, GARLIC POWDER], DEHYDRATED ONION), VEGETABLE OIL (SOYBEAN OIL AND/OR CORN OIL), ONIONS, 2% OR LESS OF DILL PICKLE RELISH (PICKLES, WATER, DISTILLED VINEGAR, SALT AND NATURAL FLAVORS), NON-FAT DRY MILK, BUTTERMILK POWDER, MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, SUGAR, VINEGAR, TOASTED SESAME SEEDS, FRACTIONATED PALM OIL, YEAST, DOUGH CONDITIONER BLEND (CALCIUM SULFATE, SALT, L-CYSTEINE HYDROCHLORIDE, GARLIC POWDER, TRICALCIUM PHOSPHATE, ENZYMES [WHEAT]), SALT, SOY LECITHIN, SODIUM STEAROYL LACTYLATE, METHYLCELLULOSE, WHEY, SOY FLOUR, DRIED EGG WHITES.
This statistic from the article is mind-boggling: > Ultra-processed products now account for nearly half of the average dietary intake of some high income countries, with consumption rising rapidly in most other countries. Note that they aren't just referring to processed foods. They classify ultra-processed foods as a step beyond what we typically think of as processed foods: > Ultra-processed foods and beverages ca…
I'm a strict health food eater but I have to be realistic and concede that preparing healthy meals is more work.
For example, I have a green smoothie drink made from raw vegetables every day for breakfast for more than 10 years. I'm pretty efficient at it but it still takes more work (and time) than just putting an unhealthy Pop Tart in the toaster.
And my dinners of lentil soup or tofu are more prep work than tossing a frozen pizza into the oven. I have a diabetic friend who often "cheats" with junk food (McDonald's burger) because cooking supposedly "simple" healthy meals is still too much of a hassle even for him.
Yes, cooking healthy may be "easy" but it's still more work than junk food. Convenience junk foods are just... more convenient.