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Javaman

(62,442 posts)
Tue Jun 11, 2019, 03:01 PM Jun 2019

Processed foods are a much bigger health problem than we thought

https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2019/6/11/18652653/diet-weight-loss-ultra-processed-foods-microbiome

In two new papers published in the BMJ, the more ultraprocessed — or industrially manufactured — foods a person ate, the more likely they were to get sick and even die. In one study, they were more likely to suffer from cardiovascular problems. The other linked an ultraprocessed diet to a higher risk of death from all causes.

Those studies followed a first-of-its-kind randomized controlled trial, out of the National Institutes of Health: Researchers found people following an ultraprocessed diet ate about 500 more calories per day than those consuming minimally processed, whole foods.

Sure, potato chips, cookies, and hot dogs are chock-full of salt, sugar, fat, and calories. They can cause us to gain weight and put us at a higher risk of diseases such as diabetes and obesity. But why? What if there’s something unique about ultraprocessed foods that primes us to overeat and leads to bad health?

A new, intriguing hypothesis offers a potential answer. Increasingly, scientists think processed foods, with all their chemicals and sugar and lack of fiber, may be formulated in ways that disturb the gut microbiome, the trillions of diverse bacteria lining our intestines and colon. Those disturbances, in turn, may heighten the risk of chronic disease and encourage overeating.


more at link....


---------------------------

a very interesting read. I highly recommend it.
45 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Processed foods are a much bigger health problem than we thought (Original Post) Javaman Jun 2019 OP
You think!!!! Wellstone ruled Jun 2019 #1
then you must know about the book, "Food, inc"... Javaman Jun 2019 #2
It is a tough one to get your head around Wellstone ruled Jun 2019 #5
I have thought this for a long time. Ohiogal Jun 2019 #3
For many years I have thought all these happybird Jun 2019 #8
I started the Keto diet about 2 months ago, and one thing I noticed after about a week or two is smirkymonkey Jun 2019 #28
Which is why I do not buy that JUNK FOOD shit. ProudMNDemocrat Jun 2019 #4
I recently got back from Europe. OliverQ Jun 2019 #6
Living in Europe all these years has probably saved my life. DFW Jun 2019 #7
We've been to Europe several times and I agree with you. kimbutgar Jun 2019 #21
Interesting customerserviceguy Jun 2019 #32
Just say no to GMO-glyphosate-processed chemical crud, Inc. (R) Achilleaze Jun 2019 #9
High Fructose Corn Syrup would be banned if our government cared even a little about our health Calculating Jun 2019 #10
I worked in Quality Control for a major Pharmaceutical company for over 35 years patphil Jun 2019 #20
If I see high frutctose corn syrup on the label I will not buy that food. kimbutgar Jun 2019 #23
We can thank the Iowa caucuses for that. customerserviceguy Jun 2019 #33
Duh - KT2000 Jun 2019 #11
I was in Ireland last summer and dropped about 7 pounds. LisaM Jun 2019 #12
I was in Ireland last Sept.. The food was great!! mitch96 Jun 2019 #14
I can't eat fish or seafood, but my SO ate fish and chips 8 times! LisaM Jun 2019 #25
"my SO ate fish and chips 8 times!" mitch96 Jun 2019 #29
Try Savannah. LisaM Jun 2019 #36
Saw a scientist on tv (60 Minutes or something). He had worked in the chips industry. Honeycombe8 Jun 2019 #13
"I think salt and sugar have a quality that makes you want more" mitch96 Jun 2019 #15
Yes! I used to buy nonfat flavored Yogurt. Honeycombe8 Jun 2019 #38
My doctor talks about processed foods, meats in particular, Mr.Bill Jun 2019 #16
A lot of it is, to me. Honeycombe8 Jun 2019 #39
Here's the problem. Organic, pesticide free whole foods cost more. Way more. YOHABLO Jun 2019 #17
"Organic, pesticide free whole foods cost more" mitch96 Jun 2019 #30
Have you not heard of Glyphosate? It's in all of our food staples. YOHABLO Jun 2019 #31
Glyphosate is in all our food, but it's usually in smaller amts in organic food womanofthehills Jun 2019 #34
"Glyphosate?" mitch96 Jun 2019 #37
I don't put much stock in "organic." Honeycombe8 Jun 2019 #40
What ever you can do to increase your health is a benefit.. mitch96 Jun 2019 #41
I read that book, The Blue Zones. Honeycombe8 Jun 2019 #42
The Blue Zones., yup that's the book.. mitch96 Jun 2019 #43
Good on you! Honeycombe8 Jun 2019 #44
"get flack for not eating beef." mitch96 Jun 2019 #45
Everyone should read this malaise Jun 2019 #18
From the BMJOpen article (original study) erronis Jun 2019 #19
Maybe a mental health problem also... rwsanders Jun 2019 #22
there is a strong link between the gut and the brain. mopinko Jun 2019 #24
Been doing for 30 yrs. I think I know how it works with Obesity & article obliquely confirms Bernardo de La Paz Jun 2019 #26
Can you say duh? Doreen Jun 2019 #27
I remember in University studying Agriculture(which is a STEM program dammit!) GulfCoast66 Jun 2019 #35
 

Wellstone ruled

(34,661 posts)
1. You think!!!!
Tue Jun 11, 2019, 03:05 PM
Jun 2019

As someone whom worked in a food lab. Oh boy,you don't want to know how those flavor enhancers are made or what they are made of or from.

Javaman

(62,442 posts)
2. then you must know about the book, "Food, inc"...
Tue Jun 11, 2019, 03:08 PM
Jun 2019

that book scared the crap out of me. I cut all fast foods out my diet and started the mission to eliminate processed foods as much a possible in my diet. that was about 20 years ago.

 

Wellstone ruled

(34,661 posts)
5. It is a tough one to get your head around
Tue Jun 11, 2019, 03:24 PM
Jun 2019

and we read all the Labels and still find misleading labeling on some many things. Finding the Organic's are a mine field of misinformation due to FDA rules being enforced by political Contributions and free tickets.

First off,zero Palm Oil and Food Grade Fiber(short for Saw Dust). The other is High Fructose Sugars of any type. There are more but my feeble brain is not working again.

Ah,there is a artificial sweetner that is made by using Chlorine gas as a distilling agent into Liquid Cheese Whey and the resulting Precipitate is marketed as a Sugar Substitute. Or call it Distilled Sugar from Whey.

Remember,any Chlorine will stay in the body for a period of time.


Ohiogal

(31,669 posts)
3. I have thought this for a long time.
Tue Jun 11, 2019, 03:10 PM
Jun 2019

Especially....

"There’s also a link between diets heavy in ultraprocessed foods and harmful inflammation — when the body’s inflammatory response goes into overdrive, making it harder to fight off viruses and disease. One measure of inflammation is a blood marker called C-reactive protein (CRP). Researchers have found associations between higher levels of CRP and various chronic illnesses, including cancer, arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. And people who eat an unhealthy diet tend to have higher levels of CRP in their bodies."

Unfortunately, highly processed foods are for the most part, cheaper and easier to access. The majority of poorer people eat this stuff because either that's all they can afford, or they don't have access to a decent grocery store and have to buy all their food from the Dollar store or convenience stores.

It's indeed a problem. Michelle Obama tried to address this in part with her push for an overhaul on our nation's health and against childhood obesity .... but remember all the ridicule she got from that. And food companies complain they can't survive without putting all this crap in our food...... no wonder our life expectancy in the US is going down.

Great article.

happybird

(4,516 posts)
8. For many years I have thought all these
Tue Jun 11, 2019, 03:57 PM
Jun 2019

crazy food allergies young people now have must be due to something in processed foods. ADHD, too.

I was an oddball in grade school because I was the only kid who had allergies and related asthma (mold and mildew was the trigger). I've only known a handful of folks my age and older with food allergies, and it's always shellfish. Over 20 years of waiting tables, I only had few customers with allergies- again, it was almost always shellfish.

What has changed since then is the proliferation of processed foods. It's the one common factor across all regions of the US and all socioeconomic groups. I bet the food lobbies work hard to make sure studies on this are suppressed.

 

smirkymonkey

(63,221 posts)
28. I started the Keto diet about 2 months ago, and one thing I noticed after about a week or two is
Tue Jun 11, 2019, 06:30 PM
Jun 2019

that all my pain went away (which I just assumed was arthritic joints and was a result of getting older), however my knee pain, low back pain, shoulder, neck and upper back pain, tension headaches and constant stomach aches just went away completely!

The things I cut out entirely were processed carbs (bread, pizza, crackers, baked goods), sweets and diet soda. I never really ate a lot of processed things (except for the above mentioned) mostly whole foods - veggies, meat, dairy, etc. but it seemed by eliminating those things, almost all of my inflammation went away, and therefore the pain. I was pleasantly shocked.

I never let it stop me from getting around, but it was just really eye opening as to how much what we eat affects how we feel. I have slacked off a little lately and bought a loaf of ciabatta bread at Whole Foods the other day (not too processed) with some cheese and olive tapenade, but the next day I had a terrible stomach-ache, low back pain and knee pain. I may keep to this diet just because of the way I feel by cutting out processed carbs.

ProudMNDemocrat

(16,485 posts)
4. Which is why I do not buy that JUNK FOOD shit.
Tue Jun 11, 2019, 03:18 PM
Jun 2019

With the myriad of health problems Americans today have , why add more?

Hell, I do not even eat corn anymore. Being genitically modified, even that is no longer good for people to eat.

 

OliverQ

(3,363 posts)
6. I recently got back from Europe.
Tue Jun 11, 2019, 03:30 PM
Jun 2019

One thing I noticed about Europeans. They eat lots of fat, sugar, breads, etc. I had pastries and coffee almost every morning over there. But they're thinner and healthier.

Why? Aside from walking a lot, they eat more natural, less processed foods. Real butter, not processed margarine or other junk. Raw sugar, not sugar substitutes or high fructose corn syrup. Real jams on bread, not artificial junk.

DFW

(54,055 posts)
7. Living in Europe all these years has probably saved my life.
Tue Jun 11, 2019, 03:48 PM
Jun 2019

We have an open air farmers market in our town three times a week. It has been there in one for or another for the last 800 years or so. My wife buys almost all of our food there. Bread baked fresh in portable ovens, veggies from the farmers that grow them or their wholesalers, all locally grown stuff, or fresh imports from as far away as the Mediterranean (which is a 15 hour drive, not a 3 week boat trip).

We like our "comfort" food as much as anyone, but at least here, we make plenty of our own from scratch. Pastries, marmalade made from raspberries and rhubarb or apricots from France. So we control what goes into it.

High fructose corn syrup is, fortunately, not used here in Europe. I can't believe it's still used in the USA. That HFCS is harmful is not exactly a state secret, after all. And yet I see it as an ingredient all over when I'm back in the States, in everything from Smuckers Jam to apple candy from Washington State (probably the ones from Shenandoah, VA, too) to even canned Bloody Mary Mix spicy tomato juice. Somebody is getting rich off that stuff, and a lot more are getting poisoned by it.

kimbutgar

(20,882 posts)
21. We've been to Europe several times and I agree with you.
Tue Jun 11, 2019, 05:46 PM
Jun 2019

Every week we prepare a fruit bowl that we eat for breakfast, based on the daily breakfast we ate in Italy at our hotels. You don’t see obese people like here and I remember growing up in the 60’s and 70’s seeing overweight people was not as common as today.

I try to cook from scratch as much as possible and can tell the difference between overly processed
And unprocessed food.

Calculating

(2,954 posts)
10. High Fructose Corn Syrup would be banned if our government cared even a little about our health
Tue Jun 11, 2019, 04:10 PM
Jun 2019

Instead all they care about is keeping the corn lobby happy. Same reason they continue to subsidize turning the stuff into ethanol and putting it in our gasoline against our wishes.

patphil

(6,035 posts)
20. I worked in Quality Control for a major Pharmaceutical company for over 35 years
Tue Jun 11, 2019, 05:41 PM
Jun 2019

I am well aware of the dangers of high fructose corn syrup, GMO foods, and artificial coloring, sweetening, and other ingredients prolific in today's food.
People would argue that our bodies don't know the difference between high fructose corn syrup and natural sugars. I would say that is true, BUT that is the problem.
The body tries to process them like regular sugars, with disasterous results.
They reek havoc in the colon.
Really bad for you!
Sometimes disguised as just corn syrup, they are manufactured compounds that don't occur in nature.
Our bodies spent thousands of years learning how to process natural foods.
It would take thousands more to learn how to handle these unnatural, man-made chemicals.
We don't have the luxury of time.
It poisons us now.

Patrick Phillips

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)
33. We can thank the Iowa caucuses for that.
Tue Jun 11, 2019, 11:29 PM
Jun 2019

It seems that all candidates of both parties work to appease the corn gods.

KT2000

(20,544 posts)
11. Duh -
Tue Jun 11, 2019, 05:14 PM
Jun 2019

I have been reading about this for about a decade or more. Of course that was ridiculed as junk science.

LisaM

(27,762 posts)
12. I was in Ireland last summer and dropped about 7 pounds.
Tue Jun 11, 2019, 05:14 PM
Jun 2019

Sure, I walked more than usual. But I in no way limited what I ate, and had a big Irish breakfast every morning and drank Guinness every night. I know it was the food.

mitch96

(13,821 posts)
14. I was in Ireland last Sept.. The food was great!!
Tue Jun 11, 2019, 05:24 PM
Jun 2019

Fresh veg, eggs had very yellow almost orange yokes. I rarely eat meat but the meat and chicken was lean and delicious.. And dont get me started on the fresh brown bread with every meal.. The salmon was outstanding. Cooked simple and very tasty. I love Guinness and even though I was in western Ireland I took the train to Dublin and made the pilgrimage to the brewery at St James Gate.. Well worth the trip.. Small country about the size of Indiana.
Yes, lots of walking but I'm a walking kind'o guy.. I love the place and I'm not even Irish!

Eat real food, mostly plants, not too much.. repeat..
m

mitch96

(13,821 posts)
29. "my SO ate fish and chips 8 times!"
Tue Jun 11, 2019, 07:58 PM
Jun 2019

I FORGOT ABOUT THE FISH AND CHIPS!!!!! I ate my self silly on them.. I've been searching for comperable down here in SoFla and have turned up short. Even in the so called "Irish pubs"... They suck. One even told me outright that it was not cod but Basa, a flaky white fish that sucks up oil like crazy..I guess I'll just have to go back to Ireland to get my fix..
m

Honeycombe8

(37,648 posts)
13. Saw a scientist on tv (60 Minutes or something). He had worked in the chips industry.
Tue Jun 11, 2019, 05:17 PM
Jun 2019

He said the chips are made to make you want more, and therefore, they sell more chips. That's why "you can't eat just one."

I suspect this is the case with a lot of processed foods. I don't know what they do to it, but I think salt and sugar have a quality that makes you want more. But the manufacturers use a cocktail of chemicals.

mitch96

(13,821 posts)
15. "I think salt and sugar have a quality that makes you want more"
Tue Jun 11, 2019, 05:27 PM
Jun 2019

They have found the formula for food addiction.. SOS Sugar, Oil and Salt. Ever look at a low fat product? loaded with salt and sugar. Low salt? heavy on the fat and sugar... etc..
For me when I cut down on the SOS the quality of my health went way up..
m

Honeycombe8

(37,648 posts)
38. Yes! I used to buy nonfat flavored Yogurt.
Wed Jun 12, 2019, 04:28 PM
Jun 2019

Delicious. But when I read the ingredients, it had sugar and chemicals.

I now buy the nonfat plan yogurt. It's pure yogurt. I add my own ingredients to make it sweet or whatever.

But for the potato chips, it's more than just salt and fats. It's the chemicals, too. The scientist explained that they'd use chemicals for that specific purpose. They'd test them by eating them. If the people could stop too soon, the formula wasn't right.

But chips are mucho good, aren't they? Yum. But I rarely buy any sort of chips these days. So unhealthy and fattening. They make me bloat up and feel not up to par for several days.

Honeycombe8

(37,648 posts)
39. A lot of it is, to me.
Wed Jun 12, 2019, 04:29 PM
Jun 2019

That stuff at McDonald's and fast food places, I don't even regard as real food. There is a connection between that type of "food" and the health problems of Americans...diabetes, obesity, heart trouble, clogged arteries....

 

YOHABLO

(7,358 posts)
17. Here's the problem. Organic, pesticide free whole foods cost more. Way more.
Tue Jun 11, 2019, 05:34 PM
Jun 2019

Our food industry uses deceptive marketing to sell food items. 'Low-cal', fat free, and then there's Kroger, that uses the term 'Simple Truth', what ever the hell that means. I think the 'Simple Truth' is they're full of simple BS.

mitch96

(13,821 posts)
30. "Organic, pesticide free whole foods cost more"
Tue Jun 11, 2019, 08:03 PM
Jun 2019

Not to offend but what is your health worth? For a start, just cut out processed meats.. Just eating more regular veg is way better for your health than bologna or bacon... BTW I love bacon but don't eat it any more..
m

womanofthehills

(8,584 posts)
34. Glyphosate is in all our food, but it's usually in smaller amts in organic food
Tue Jun 11, 2019, 11:50 PM
Jun 2019

Less regulations by Trump means more companies are lying and saying their ingredients are organic.

Some foods have higher levels of glyphosate - like sugar, wheat, grains, soy, peas, almonds - stuff that is sprayed with glyphosate right before harvest.

I only eat organic, and I can buy organic vegetables very cheap at Whole Foods. Organic carrots, greens, celery, beets - all run around $2.00 a bunch. Even Walmart has organic cabbage for $2.00. I have my own chickens that I feed organically and I buy grass fed beef from local ranchers.

mitch96

(13,821 posts)
37. "Glyphosate?"
Wed Jun 12, 2019, 11:07 AM
Jun 2019

That is why people eat organic..
Don't eat your greens and not maintain health. Eat greens at a affordable price and end up consuming glyphosate. Eat organic and eat less glyphosate at a higher cost, but consume greens for health.. Sounds like painting yourself into a box.. If people have the room you could grow your own but that's not viable to many.
For me it's simple. Eat greens, beans, veg and fruits as close to organic as possible. I've been eating this way for over 40 years (yes I'm a geezer) and I'm very healthy. I'm on no meds with stable blood sugar, bp, and lipids. The rare times I go to the doctor he says what ever I'm doing KEEP DOING IT... YMMV, works for me..
m

Honeycombe8

(37,648 posts)
40. I don't put much stock in "organic."
Wed Jun 12, 2019, 04:31 PM
Jun 2019

Organic farming uses pesticides, too. It's just that the pesticides don't stay in the environment. But they are as toxic as non-organic pesticides are. I try not to use any pesticide in my yard.

But when you're farming for profit, you really have to use some pesticide(s), or you could lose a whole crop and go out of business. It's just the nature of farming for mass production.

Organic IS too expensive. It is somewhat healthier, and the pesticides on the produce are less, but there's no evidence that it helps w/a person's health in the long run. I think organic may taste better? Not sure.

But like you, I almost never eat processed meats (maybe twice a year?). I also gave up beef, pork, veal, sausage. I love sugar, but it's really bad for the body. I've cut down, but not given it up. I don't eat foods that have sugar as an ingredient (like cereals), saving sugar for special occasions where I'll eat candy or cake.

I eat mainly skinless chicken breasts I cook myself, whole grain breads (not much of that), fresh & frozen fruits, some frozen veggies (I don't care for veggies but make myself eat them...not with sauces or other ingredients).

mitch96

(13,821 posts)
41. What ever you can do to increase your health is a benefit..
Wed Jun 12, 2019, 07:38 PM
Jun 2019

There are about five places around the world that the people in those regions have maintained health and longevity into their 90's. Public health investigators looked to see what is the common thread that keeps these people is such good shape. A whole food plant based diet is the common thread. The seventh day adventists in Loma Linda Ca are one of those groups. Lots of veg (I doubt organic but maybe) some grains, beans, nuts, seeds and berries. Meat is used more like a condiment than a main course and only on occation.
Lots of excersize be it hard work or working out. The other areas are Sardinia, Okinawa, Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula, and Ikaria in Greece.
To me, your health is like the "1" in $1,000,000. Take the "1" away and your left with a bunch of zeros......... nada nothing zilch..
m

Honeycombe8

(37,648 posts)
42. I read that book, The Blue Zones.
Thu Jun 13, 2019, 12:17 AM
Jun 2019

It was very interesting. I attribute my excellent health to having given up beef & all meats except poultry years ago (for ethical, not health reasons). My excellent health won't last forever, but I'm surprised. I'm over 60 and had always thought of people over 60 as getting all sorts of health problems. I'm in the same or better health than I was when I was 30.

I also drink sugar free green tea as my beverage of choice. Antioxidants.

mitch96

(13,821 posts)
43. The Blue Zones., yup that's the book..
Thu Jun 13, 2019, 01:49 PM
Jun 2019

There is just too much evidence based science that a Whole foods plant based diet will keep you healthy as we age.. I don't eat meat for health reasons. All the men in my family died of heart disease in their late '50s and early '60s. I'm gonna be 70 soon so eating this way is what I call the "grand experiment"..
I will sometimes eat broiled or steamed Alaska (not farm raised) salmon once a month or maybe sardine toast with avocado. That's my treat. It has my B-12 dose for the week.
I guess I'm just an old hippy veg doing my yoga/palates with a long walk thrown in for good measure... Such a cliché
m

Honeycombe8

(37,648 posts)
44. Good on you!
Thu Jun 13, 2019, 02:10 PM
Jun 2019

I bet you get flack for not eating beef. It's the "manly" thing to do. I get some flack, as it is, even though I'm female and a liberal.

I have not been able to give up poultry. It's hard to replace that lean, low cholesterol protein source, I love it, and I don't feel as bad about eating chickens as I do cattle, sheep, and such. But I have not given up on my goal of giving it up.

I do eat fish, although it's pretty expensive...so it's rare that I buy non-canned fish. I eat canned salmon sometimes, but I am suspicious of anything in cans.

I do walk every day, although not far, now, because of my new non-walkable neighborhood.

I'm not a health nut, though, IMO. I just try to live a healthy lifestyle, which (as you probably know) is foreign to some people. But I still splurge on fried chicken and candy now and then, skip my walk, etc. The rebel in me.

mitch96

(13,821 posts)
45. "get flack for not eating beef."
Thu Jun 13, 2019, 04:28 PM
Jun 2019

I'm lucky I have people around me that know I'm just a bit weird, but in a good way. I'm not totally against red meat. It's just left to my own devices, I don't eat it. If I was invited over to a friend or acquaintances house for dinner and they had good Texas Brisket or prime rib, I'd eat some to be polite. I'd just eat more of the available veg. I eat bird on occasion, usually hot chicken wings. I draw the line at processed food especially if I don't recognize the ingredients. Sometimes you have to be a chemist to know whats in that stuff...
One persons "health nut" is just normal to to others. "Tweech" his own..
m

erronis

(14,955 posts)
19. From the BMJOpen article (original study)
Tue Jun 11, 2019, 05:41 PM
Jun 2019
Ultra-processed foods and added sugars in the US diet: evidence from a nationally representative cross-sectional study

In conclusion, we found that ultra-processed foods contribute almost 60% of calories and 90% of added sugars consumed in the USA. Only Americans in the lowest quintile of ultra-processed food consumption met the recommended guidelines for intake of added sugars. Decreasing the consumption of ultra-processed foods could be an effective way of reducing the excessive intake of added sugars in the USA.

rwsanders

(2,585 posts)
22. Maybe a mental health problem also...
Tue Jun 11, 2019, 05:47 PM
Jun 2019

I don't have a fancy link, but that is a working hypothesis.
I tell people food additives are the reason we have so many mass shootings and Trump as a president.

mopinko

(69,806 posts)
24. there is a strong link between the gut and the brain.
Tue Jun 11, 2019, 06:00 PM
Jun 2019

i dont doubt this at all.
cuz somethin is happening, and it is happening all over.

Bernardo de La Paz

(48,789 posts)
26. Been doing for 30 yrs. I think I know how it works with Obesity & article obliquely confirms
Tue Jun 11, 2019, 06:11 PM
Jun 2019

I'm pretty sure that the key is that the body is getting a lack of nutrients in highly processed food or (as article indicates & new angle to me) that any nutrients are poorly absorbed. Probably some of both.

So then the body signals to the brain "We need more food" to get the missing nutrients so we eat more food than strictly necessary and we gain weight.

By avoiding processed foods, we break that cycle in multiple ways.

1) There are more nutrients and cooperating nutrients left in the food. Not taken out and then a very limited number put back in without co-nutrients (my terminology). We know that certain minerals like zinc and selenium in small or trace amounts promote absorption of some other nutrients. There are many complex interactions. Raw & natural sourcing preserves those interactions.

2) Less disruptive to the gut biome. We know that over consumption of some food-like substances disrupts the gut. These are added to processed foods to promote sales.

3) Processed foods are often said to have "great taste" by the lumpenproletariat by which I mean the average consumer who as a group are not very skilled or experienced in varieties or paying careful attention to taste.

This "great taste" and mouth appeal (crunchiness for example) are like blunt instruments: they clobber the taste buds to send a jolt to the brain, but there is no nuance or complexity. It's like hearing two minutes of Rancid versus two minutes of Mozart.

So, avoiding processed foods includes training the mind to resense and reperceive the multitude of complexities of taste available. Rancid may provide a thrill, but Mozart is deeper and more beneficial even if it might take a little getting used to.

4) Processed foods encourage snacking. Real foods require user-preparation so they take time to prepare and thus meals are more like meals.

GulfCoast66

(11,949 posts)
35. I remember in University studying Agriculture(which is a STEM program dammit!)
Wed Jun 12, 2019, 12:12 AM
Jun 2019

Learning the molecular makeup of different fats. When we got to hydrogenated fats and realized Americans were eating tons of a man made fat our body had no evolutionary history with and decided they were poison.

Since that day I have not intentionally consumed margarine or crisco. Or and type of it.

Over time I have included many other types of oils to my list. I come from a frying culture. And still do it pretty regularly. But now only use lard, duck fat, and olive oil. And yes, you can fry in olive oil if you mind your temperature. If you have ever eaten the delicious fried street food in Italy it was fried in olive oil.

And we still use strictly butter.

And organic where possible.

I’m still gonna die. And it may well be diet related. But it won’t be fake food that kills me. And I will have eaten better than most humans who have ever lived on the planet. That means a lot to me.





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