Most “processed foods” aren’t bad because they are processed. In fact certain kinds of professing can make foods more healthy. The problem is we live in a world where most of the food we buy was...
Most “processed foods” aren’t bad because they are processed. In fact certain kinds of professing can make foods more healthy. The problem is we live in a world where most of the food we buy was processed to save money, and any health considerations are always subordinate to the economic goals of the business owner.
The entire label of "processed foods" has always been a bit problematic in my view. Mostly because in regular writing and conversations there doesn't seem to be a clear definition, so it ends up...
The entire label of "processed foods" has always been a bit problematic in my view. Mostly because in regular writing and conversations there doesn't seem to be a clear definition, so it ends up meaning almost anything where we are not talking about raw food. Which by definition would mean that the act of cooking makes most food consumed already "processed".
To be clear, I am fully aware there are likely more strict definitions of what it means for researchers. But in general conversation I yet have to find that. Which makes articles or conversations about it in general difficult, as it has become such a container term that it has lost most meaning.
As you said, some processing is good. In fact, some processing is even necessary. So to me, it already does seem like it is an issue that exists on a scale that is highly depending on context.
It's a European study. I know Europe is very diverse with many cultures. However, as an American, I know we allow different food additives and eat different bread. I want to know if the same...
It's a European study. I know Europe is very diverse with many cultures. However, as an American, I know we allow different food additives and eat different bread. I want to know if the same results would be found here.
The latest study is based on an analysis of the dietary history of, and illnesses experienced by, 266,666 people in seven European countries, including the UK.
The authors said: “In this multinational European prospective cohort study, we found that higher consumption of UPF was associated with a higher risk of multimorbidity of cancer and cardiometabolic diseases.”
People keen to lower their risk should replace some but not all UPF in their diet with “similar but less processed foods … for the prevention of cancer and cardiometabolic multimorbidity” or follow the Mediterranean diet, they said.
Yeah, the bread in particular raised questions to me. The article says that bread is fine because of the fiber but in the US and most of Asia the bread we eat is made with flour stripped of most...
Yeah, the bread in particular raised questions to me. The article says that bread is fine because of the fiber but in the US and most of Asia the bread we eat is made with flour stripped of most of its fiber, so who knows if it would be the same?
I would be interested in reading some of the criticism of this study. I’m not in the right headspace to read this study and I’m not familiar enough with the kind of statistical analysis to know how strong their evidence is. I did see some things that concerned me but that may be something that the methodology would have accounted for.
In any case, I don’t think that this study is saying that these foods are “good for you”. It just means you’re less likely to get more than one life-shortening chronic disease.
"Bread is fine" is a universal statement and not very meaningful. There are many kinds of bread and people are different. "The bread I eat is fine" is different. Shouldn't you know how much fiber...
"Bread is fine" is a universal statement and not very meaningful. There are many kinds of bread and people are different.
"The bread I eat is fine" is different. Shouldn't you know how much fiber is in the bread you eat? Maybe you eat like a European? (And presumably not French - I don't think a typical baguette has much fiber?)
But the main thing I get from the study is that "processed" and "ultraprocessed" are pretty meaningless from a health point of view, if taken as abstract categories and not about specific foods. It's reasonable to assume that an apple is probably better for you than apple juice, but if you're comparing completely different foods then other things are probably more important.
I'm very curious what you specifically mean for this. Is this a white bread vs whole-wheat thing? Because white flour is certainly still used for at least some breads throughout Europe (even here...
The article says that bread is fine because of the fiber but in the US and most of Asia the bread we eat is made with flour stripped of most of its fiber, so who knows if it would be the same?
I'm very curious what you specifically mean for this. Is this a white bread vs whole-wheat thing? Because white flour is certainly still used for at least some breads throughout Europe (even here in Germany, where culturally there seems to be a preference for heavier, darker breads).
Yes, you’ve already got it. I know that Europe has both kinds of bread available, but for the most part it seems that people in the continent are much more likely to choose whole wheat (or some...
Yes, you’ve already got it.
I know that Europe has both kinds of bread available, but for the most part it seems that people in the continent are much more likely to choose whole wheat (or some other grain). In the US people overwhelmingly prefer white bread. My grandmother and I are the only people I personally know who prefer whole wheat bread.
I'm from the US and I remember hating that my mom only ever bought whole-wheat bread lol... definitely the healthier choice but it gives me a certain rebel joy when I eat white bread now as an...
I'm from the US and I remember hating that my mom only ever bought whole-wheat bread lol... definitely the healthier choice but it gives me a certain rebel joy when I eat white bread now as an adult lol.
Bread culture varies a TON by country within Europe though, so I don't think you can really generalize like that. Germany is the place to be for heavier breads (not even just whole wheat but other grains as well), but French bread is prototypically very white -- perhaps they also have popular whole-wheat bread there but it's certainly not as culturally dominant as it is in Germany.
And even in countries like Germany, you can get the familiarly-shitty American-style loves of bread if you want (in German that kind of bread is called "Toast") -- I'll confess that's mostly what I buy because it keeps longer and I don't eat bread as much as my German neighbors lol. Though I think I've even seen whole-wheat versions of those -- I've definitely seen ones that are darker in color than the usual white, at least.
A major new international study has found that regular consumption of meat products – such as sausages – and sugary drinks make it more likely that someone will get [cancer, heart disease and diabetes].
But bread and cereals actually reduce someone’s risk of them – because they contain fibre – despite also being ultra-processed foods (UPF), the same researchers also concluded, in findings published in The Lancet.
Similarly, sauces, spreads and condiments are also bad for human health, but not as much as animal products and soft drinks.
However, several other major types of UPF previously seen as harmful: sweets and desserts, ready meals, savoury snacks and plant-based alternatives to meat products also got the all-clear. They are “not associated with risk of multimorbidity”, said the authors.
Experts said the findings showed that regarding all UPF products as bad for health is unwise and unwarranted.
Like several other recent research projects, the new study did conclude that UPF harms human health and makes it more likely that someone who consumes a lot of it would suffer a potentially fatal event, such as a heart attack or stroke. However, it also gives a more detailed picture of exactly which UPF products do and do not heighten that risk.
Most “processed foods” aren’t bad because they are processed. In fact certain kinds of professing can make foods more healthy. The problem is we live in a world where most of the food we buy was processed to save money, and any health considerations are always subordinate to the economic goals of the business owner.
The entire label of "processed foods" has always been a bit problematic in my view. Mostly because in regular writing and conversations there doesn't seem to be a clear definition, so it ends up meaning almost anything where we are not talking about raw food. Which by definition would mean that the act of cooking makes most food consumed already "processed".
To be clear, I am fully aware there are likely more strict definitions of what it means for researchers. But in general conversation I yet have to find that. Which makes articles or conversations about it in general difficult, as it has become such a container term that it has lost most meaning.
As you said, some processing is good. In fact, some processing is even necessary. So to me, it already does seem like it is an issue that exists on a scale that is highly depending on context.
It's a European study. I know Europe is very diverse with many cultures. However, as an American, I know we allow different food additives and eat different bread. I want to know if the same results would be found here.
It's also true that there are a wide variety of breads one could eat. Europeans don't all eat the same kinds of bread. Nor do Americans.
Yeah, the bread in particular raised questions to me. The article says that bread is fine because of the fiber but in the US and most of Asia the bread we eat is made with flour stripped of most of its fiber, so who knows if it would be the same?
I would be interested in reading some of the criticism of this study. I’m not in the right headspace to read this study and I’m not familiar enough with the kind of statistical analysis to know how strong their evidence is. I did see some things that concerned me but that may be something that the methodology would have accounted for.
In any case, I don’t think that this study is saying that these foods are “good for you”. It just means you’re less likely to get more than one life-shortening chronic disease.
"Bread is fine" is a universal statement and not very meaningful. There are many kinds of bread and people are different.
"The bread I eat is fine" is different. Shouldn't you know how much fiber is in the bread you eat? Maybe you eat like a European? (And presumably not French - I don't think a typical baguette has much fiber?)
But the main thing I get from the study is that "processed" and "ultraprocessed" are pretty meaningless from a health point of view, if taken as abstract categories and not about specific foods. It's reasonable to assume that an apple is probably better for you than apple juice, but if you're comparing completely different foods then other things are probably more important.
I'm very curious what you specifically mean for this. Is this a white bread vs whole-wheat thing? Because white flour is certainly still used for at least some breads throughout Europe (even here in Germany, where culturally there seems to be a preference for heavier, darker breads).
Yes, you’ve already got it.
I know that Europe has both kinds of bread available, but for the most part it seems that people in the continent are much more likely to choose whole wheat (or some other grain). In the US people overwhelmingly prefer white bread. My grandmother and I are the only people I personally know who prefer whole wheat bread.
I'm from the US and I remember hating that my mom only ever bought whole-wheat bread lol... definitely the healthier choice but it gives me a certain rebel joy when I eat white bread now as an adult lol.
Bread culture varies a TON by country within Europe though, so I don't think you can really generalize like that. Germany is the place to be for heavier breads (not even just whole wheat but other grains as well), but French bread is prototypically very white -- perhaps they also have popular whole-wheat bread there but it's certainly not as culturally dominant as it is in Germany.
And even in countries like Germany, you can get the familiarly-shitty American-style loves of bread if you want (in German that kind of bread is called "Toast") -- I'll confess that's mostly what I buy because it keeps longer and I don't eat bread as much as my German neighbors lol. Though I think I've even seen whole-wheat versions of those -- I've definitely seen ones that are darker in color than the usual white, at least.
Of course I am aware of the variation. But the study is of a number of European nations so the generalization seemed necessary.
From the article:
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanepe/article/PIIS2666-7762(23)00190-4/fulltext
Link to the actual paper for those who want to read that.