You are what you eat! As a vegan for longer than I can remember the past few years have seen a revolution in the growth of veganism which I welcome. Often celebrity led it has brought a much wider range of vegan foods and drinks onto the market which at first glance is good news.
However, within the new expanded boundaries are many ‘convenience vegan foods’ which includes ultra- processed products which are of concern. Of course ultra-processed foods (UPF) have a general application, but just how aware are we of them and their effect on our health, whether we are Vegan, Vegetarian, Mediterranean, or meat eaters?
Over the recent seasonal break I picked up a copy of the best-selling book ‘Ultra- Processed People’ by Chris van Tulleken. It was an eye opener. He covers, in plain language, the origins of UPF, their economics and their impact and asserts that UPF is a bigger cause of weight gain than sugar or a lack of exercise, and describes psychological and physiological effects of UPF on the human body. He also draws from talks with scientists and experts within the food industry, and highlights the failure to rigorously state conflicts of interest in scientific papers regarding food, nutrition and their industries.
Reviewing the book Tim Adams wrote in The Guardian (19 May 2024): ‘The contention of Ultra-Processed People is that food engineered by corporations with additives and emulsifiers and modified starches essentially “hacks our brains”, disrupting the normal regulation of appetite. It tricks us into eating more by being softer, slicker, saltier, sweeter than whole foods and it is that trillion-dollar fact, his evidence suggests, which is driving the obesity epidemic.’
Why not give it a read regardless of your diet?
‘Ultra-Processed People: Why Do We All Eat Stuff That Isn’t Food… and Why Can’t We Stop? Non-fiction book by Chris van Tulleken published by Cornerstone Press in 2023 and by Penguin Books in 2024.
About the author: Christoffer Rodolphe van Hoogenhouck-Tulleken (born August 1978), known as Dr. Chris, is a British physician, television presenter, and identical twin brother of Alexander “Xand” van Hoogenhouck-Tulleken. They are perhaps best known for presenting the children’s series Operation Ouch! (BBC -CBBC). Van Tulleken also became well known for his two-part television special for BBC One entitled The Doctor Who Gave Up Drugs (2018). He is an NHS infectious diseases doctor at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in London. He was last year’s lecturer for the Christmas Lectures from the Royal Institution.
We have lots of information on our food page about eating well, whilst supporting the environment such as eating wholefoods and buying nature friendly foods that are locally and seasonally grown.
Also, have a look at the following NHS food groups:
NHS FOOD GROUPS
GROUP ONE – BASIC WHOLEFOODS
Vegetables
Fruit
Nuts
Eggs
Meat
Milk
Rice and Grains
These foods are classed as unprocessed and have nothing added to them.
GROUP TWO – PROCESSED CULINARY INGREDIENTS
These are foods that add flavour:
Olive Oil
Salt
Pepper
Dried Herbs
Does include white sugar and honey
GROUP THREE – PROCESSED FOODS
(Made up of 2 – 4 ingredients, usually made by combining foods in Groups 1 and 2).
May be more convenient such as tinned fish, plain yoghurt, ham/bacon and sourdough bread.
GROUP FOUR – ULTRA PROCESSED FOODS
Industrial formulation of 5 or more ingredients such as:
Sweet and Savour packaged snacks/chocolate
Crisps
Ice-Cream
Biscuits
Cakes
Ready Meals
Cooking Sauces
Fizzy Drinks
Cordials