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Monday 5 December 2022

'BMJ: What is junk food and what is the harm?'

Sharing an article (and image) from Diabetes Diet Blog

"Adapted from: BMJ 3 Sept 22 People need nourishing food that promotes health, not the opposite by Carlos Monteiro et al.

Everybody needs food, but nobody needs ultra- processed food with the exception of infants who are not being breast fed and need infant formula.

The foods that are “ultra- processed” include: soft drinks, packaged snacks, commercial breads, cakes and biscuits, confectionery, sweetened breakfast cereals, sugared milk based and fruit drinks, margarine and pre-processed ready to eat or heat products such as burgers, pastas and pizzas.

These foods are industrial formulations made by deconstructing whole foods into chemical constituents, altering them and recombining them with additives into products that are alternatives to fresh and minimally processed foods and freshly prepared meals.

In low amounts, they wouldn’t necessarily be a problem. But most ultra- processed foods are made, sold and promoted by corporations, typically transnational, that formulate them to be convenient, ready to eat, affordable, due to low -cost ingredients, and hyperpalatable. These foods are liable to displace other foods and also to be overconsumed.

Systemic reviews of large well -designed cohort studies worldwide have shown that consumption of ultra-processed foods increase: obesity, type two diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, depression, and all- cause mortality.

Other prospectively associated conditions include dyslipidaemias, gout, renal function decline, non-alcoholic liver disease, Crohn’s disease, breast cancer and in men colorectal cancer. They also cause multiple nutrient imbalances.

It is calculated that ingestion of these foods compared to fresh ingredients, matched for macronutients, sugar, sodium and fibre adds a typical 500kcal daily, which leads to the inevitable fat accumulation.

US investigators have found that dietary emulsifiers and some artificial sweeteners alter the gut bacteria causing greater inflammatory potential, so replacing sugar with these isn’t a good idea either.

In the UK policies to limit promotion and consumption of ultra-processed food have recently been rejected, mainly because of the belief that in our current economic situation people need access to cheap food. As no one really wants to support foods that cause illness, the obvious solution is to promote foods that are fresh and minimally processed, available, attractive and affordable. Such a strategy would improve family life, public health, the economy and environment."


~ xx ooo xx ~

Back in 2014 Eddie wrote this post and words:

"Let your food be your medicine, and your medicine be your food." Hippocrates.

Over two thousand years ago those words were uttered by the Father of medicine, they stand good today. Never has the food we eat had greater influence over our lives. Traditional foods and healthy eating has been usurped by the multinational food giants. Do not become a victim of poor dietary information. Eat the food we evolved from, the less man is involved, the healthier the food.

 ... we genuinely believe whole fresh foods are the way to better health. Spend a few quid or bucks more, an investment in good food will save you money in the future in medical bills."


~ xx ooo xx ~

Do please share your thoughts in the comments section.

Please note that articles within this blog are provided for general information only and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. If you have any concerns about your general health, you should contact your local health care provider.

All the best Jan

25 comments:

Chatty Crone said...

You are 100% right- but it takes discipline and mojo and I need both!
I like the quote Eddie used in 2014!

Mary Kirkland said...

That's a really good article.

Jeanie said...

No one NEEDS it. But everything in moderation!

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

One of the things you mentioned was margarine. If people knew just how many carcinogens are it it, they would opt for the real thing: butter. Not whipped or imitation, but the real thing. Loved this article, Jan.

Tom said...

...for many, it's all about the price.

happyone said...

We certainly don't need it, but every so often is kind of nice! :)

J.P. Alexander said...

Una entrada muy completa te mando un beso.

gluten Free A_Z Blog said...

This is a great post. I think that the ultra processed foods have become so commonplace that we forget that they are really not healthy and possibly shouldn't even be considered "food". It's a shame that kids make meals out of them.

Margaret D said...

Good article to read Jan.

Elephant's Child said...

It is when it becomes the norm that it is particularly dangerous. And sadly it often is.

John's Island said...

Hello Jan, I hope that fellow bloggers will take the time to read this post, and then read it again. Speaking for myself, I know that I should take the advice here to heart. I do believe, that for the most part, I eat healthy, but at the same time, I don’t think I’ve really focused on cutting down on the processed food. Sitting here, reflecting on this, it seems a bit like exercise. For years, I did not get much daily exercise. Then, I set a new goal to walk about 2 miles (3.2km) daily. I’ve been doing that now for more than 2 years and it has changed my life. There are so many benefits from daily exercise! So, I’m going to think seriously about my diet. I just want to say thanks to you and Eddie for publishing such an excellent blog. I hope you two are doing well. Seattle and the UK are not too far apart when it comes to latitude and that means we are both experiencing the colder, darker days now. Stay warm and take good care, my friends. Thank you for The Low Carb Diabetic! John

eileeninmd said...

Great information and post.
I cut out soda a long time ago, I am trying to buy more healthy items.
Take care, enjoy your day!

Jo said...

Perhaps growing some of your own food should be promoted more. Going back a generation or two, people turned their gardens over to vegetables or they had allotments. I never remember my grandparents buying veg, they used what they'd grown. Gardening is a good form of exercise too.

Valerie-Jael said...

Hippocrates was right. Junk food isn't really food. Valerie

Christine said...

Junk food is so harmful

DVArtist said...

To make our food our medicine and medicine our food would be the way to go. Hard to do though. So as much as I can I do try. Have a great day today.

Divers and Sundry said...

I take my candy as a treat in moderation. Actual food should always be the bulk of what we eat. I appreciate you highlighting this issue, especially this time of year.

William Kendall said...

Good information.

Sue said...

I really feel for the generation who thinks this is 'real' food. Their children will also suffer. How do you try to change a whole generation of eating habits?

Ananka said...

I think so many people don't think about what they are eating! And so many don't make the connection to the well being and what they eat....It is worrying.

Conniecrafter said...

Yes they do make those foods appealable to those that work long hours or have big families where it makes having to prepare meals much quicker and like you said cheaper, some people are too poor to buy fruits and vegetables enough for their families, it is so sad because those that need it the most can't afford it

baili said...

Wonderful powerful sharing my friend!
always grateful for the effort you do to keep us updated regarding health issues.
I consider highly processed food one of the greatest threat to general health

Linda said...

SnackSafely just published a summary of a scientific study by Karine Adel-Patient, PhD, on nanoparticles in foods. They can damage intestinal mucosa and may cause allergies in babies.
“Nanoparticles are ultrafine particles invisible to the naked eye. They are used in fertilizers and pesticides to aid crop production (where they often seep into the groundwater), as anti-foaming and anti-caking agents and preservatives in food production, and in food packaging due to their anti-microbial properties.”

Teresa said...

Tus reportajes son muy interesantes. Besos.

carol l mckenna said...

Wonderfully informative post ~ thanks ~ Xo

Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)