A few weeks ago when I was out somewhere Radio 4 was on in the car and it was the twin TV doctors (Dr Chris Van Tulleken and Dr. Xand) who were talking about their difference in weight and ability to lose weight and propensity to gain weight despite being brought up the same. They have a podcast on the subject and the story of when Dr. Chris ate 80% Ultra Processed Food (UPFs) for a month, felt quite ill and gained a lot of weight . A bit about it HERE.
UPFs are foods that contain anything you wouldn't find in, or be able to buy for, a household kitchen.
They do say that there are a few foods that are UPFs that aren't so bad and a small % each day probably does no harm.
Surely I didn't eat many UPFs .................apart from maybe all those vegetarian bakes I've been testing out! And if I was eating more than I knew, could that be a reason for weight gain?
Better give this some thought...............................
Came to conclusion I could live quite happily (and without UPFs) on my home made bread toasted (nothing odd added in that) with peanut butter from Aldi (only peanuts) home made cakes, cheese and fresh fruit!
Not sure that was the best conclusion to arrive at!
(Carolyn is doing a WWII ration challenge on her blog which is probably a better way to eat without UPF's and to save money and cope with rising food prices and possible shortages.)
Back Tomorrow...... if I can think of something to write about
Sue
That article is extremely interesting, thanks for posting it.
ReplyDeleteI've seen Carolyn's challenge and did think about it but decided that apart from not being the best mixture of foods for me (so much milk and sugar for a start), a lot of the foods are more suitable for colder weather eating. I suppose I could adapt it . . .
Are you thinking of doing it?
xx
I like fruit too much to do the WWII Ration challenge!
DeleteWould I be right to assume that home made mayonnaise and even tastier, salad cream would be okay. I believe they're okay in the fridge for up to a fortnight, so just make smaller quantities. I haven't tried it, but apparently mayonnaise can be made with a stick blender, without having to drip the oil a little at a time.
DeleteI saw a few seconds of something on BBC news last night related to the 'newest' food strategy; the lady being interviewed was talking about how many people did not know how to cook carrots or brussel sprouts.
ReplyDeleteHow did we get to such a state in this country where we've got a generation or more of folk for whom "food" always comes in sealed packets full of previously unheard of chemical ingredients?
I could live on your diet, if you add some pasta please, with a simple tomato & cheese sauce :-) Same as Joy, Carolyn's challenge is incredible but the wrong mix of foods for me.
Not a lot is easier than cooking carrots!. The list of ingredients on some packets is quit frightening
DeleteI was watching an episode of Eat Well For Less a couple of years ago and a woman had peeled a couple of carrots and was busy chopping them. 'Well,' she said, 'I'm not sure I'm up for this kind of grind every day!' I wonder what my terrifying Domestic Science teacher would have said to that... probably spinning in her grave!
DeleteI try to eat "simple" food as much as I can, mostly cooked from scratch-but I am realising that "convenience" foods are a major culprit. The ingredients listed on the soup can include things which would never get into my homemade pot. Thickeners, preservatives, artificial sweeteners - and more hidden fats and sugar. I shall make a bowl of porridge for breakfast...
ReplyDeleteApart from all the things that can be shoved in the oven like the vegetarian bakes I hope I don't eat too many UPFs but I've got lazy since I stopped having to cook for 2 every day
DeleteI heard the tail end of this programme, must catch up. Being Type 2 Diabetic certainly makes you review your food choices. NO salt or sugar or anything containing them, NO fats and very low carbs, so lots of homemade soup, crunchy slaws this time of year with homemade without mayo dressings, apples, pears, berries. No bananas or over sweet fruits or potatoes, pasta, rice or bread of course. Fish and meat if you eat it, eggs but nothing in a packet or tin, makes food shopping interesting I can tell you! Guaranteed to loose weight. Sarah Browne
ReplyDeleteMy BiL is type 2 but tends to eat almost anything then takes tablets and injections to put things right!
DeleteI have coeliac, so am very aware of the dangers lurking in processed food. Gluten is added as a thickener to more foods than you would think possible - fancy yoghurts, chocolates (as opposed to simple chocolate), soups and sausages. It is easier and safer to cook everything from scratch myself.
ReplyDeleteTwo bits of the writer Michael Pollan's advice have stuck in my mind - if a 'food' has more than five ingredients, put it back, and don't eat anything your granny wouldn't recognise.
That advice from Micheal Pollan is very good - I think he was one of the first writers to think about what was in processed foods
DeleteI am soooo bad for this - all processed here. Usually because by the time I've run around for the men, I've nothing left in the tank so grab something easy for me. Thank you for sharing the link to Carolyn's blog. It looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteTime is the problem for a lot of people with convenience foods being so easy
DeleteI watched the programme with the van Tulleken brothers in the New Year it was fascinating. If you go into a supermarket after watching something like that it really hits you how much of the food that's for sale is ultra-processed.
ReplyDeleteYes Michael Pollen had it right when he said 'Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.'
Carolyn's WW2 Experiment has really taken off well, she's going to be so busy answering all the questions, filming for her YouTube channel and working full-time. Me doing the refugee Ration Challenge next week and it making me consider and think more about what I eat usually, is making me want to really simplify my diet over the next couple of months, so I might have a month on WW2 rations to start me off as we head into Autumn.
I think you are very brave as I know for sure I couldn't live on the refugee ration - all those pulses and no fruit would make me ill. I'm not even sure I'd be OK on the WWII rations - let's hope we never have to find out
DeleteIn recent years I have realised how lucky I am, I have food allergies and intolerance and just always cook from scratch, it is so much easier.
ReplyDeleteI used to do much more cooking from scratch when there were 5 of us and even when my husband was still alive. Now I'm alone it is harder to get up the enthusiasm
DeleteI don't each much UPF but homemade bread will do me in I love and toasted oh yummmmmmm
ReplyDeleteCathy
Toast and marmalade is my regular breakfast - I never get fed up with it
DeleteRead an article where the woman who wrote it said if she makes it from scratch, then she can eat it. This is SO true. I am eliminating the UPF's from my life, and my gut is thanking me for it. Yep, it can be a lot of work, yet I can keep cooking very simple. Meal prep has helped with this so much!
ReplyDeleteI try to keep several batch -baked and home made things in the freezer (spinach and ricotta lasagne is lovely) but then eat a few things like the vegetarian bakes too
DeleteI was in Lidl today and found myself craving the walnut cake - full of dubious stuff I'm sure! Bought a bag of walnuts instead ( £2 .19 ) I'll make a cake myself - but it will cost more than the ready made.....
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
The length of time that bought cakes will keep means they must have so much preservatives. I like my home made best - except for the occasional doughnut!
DeleteMy daughter is gluten-free, dairy-free so I have gotten more used to reading the ingredients label on products when I am cooking for her. I have to pay more attention to my daily diet and watch the foods I eat. I have been watching salt content as my blood pressure has been going up. Thanks for your advice!
ReplyDeleteThe print on some packs is so tiny - they don't make it easy to read do they.
DeleteProcessed food carries lots of salt and other preservatives. I find eating lots of vegetables, lean meat, fish, modest amounts of cheese and whole wheat bread as well as fruit works well for me. I like the DASH or Mediterranean diet. I do occasionally eat out at restaurants and coffee shops; I'm not entirely strict with diet. As long as I'm feeling well, I'll continue with this combo (Mediterranean/Restaurant/Coffee Shop) diet.
ReplyDeleteand not just salt and preservatives - all sorts of things with strange names that we have no idea what they are for
ReplyDeleteGaining weight is the bane of my life so DH and I eat SW recipes and when I keep to it, I do lose weight, just hard some days when I long for cake!
ReplyDeleteI seem to gain weight whatever I eat, good or bad. Now, I don't worry so much. I like to remember the old adage that a little bit of what you like is good for you, and simply enjoy whatever I eat :)
ReplyDeleteVery interesting. I am glad I try and stick with foods that I can pronounce.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Fast food is popular, quick and easy. The down side is the preservatives and salt content. Home made veggie wraps and baked meals or stir fries are better than prepared foods. The growing season provides great farm fresh veggies. I'll never give up the occasional restaurant meal or coffee shop treat. At home, I can prepare easy home made meals.
ReplyDelete