Why these foods create a supersized problem

Last week, I warned you about “hyperpalatable foods.” And how the food industry creates these extra-tasty recipes—designed for overindulgence and maximum profits—at the expense of the public health.

It’s just one of the reasons why a diet high in processed food leads straight to obesity. And you know what? Recent research shows that eating this way will pack on the pounds, even if your meals are the exact same size as they always were…

Obesity on three meals a day

 “Ultra-processed” foods—or what I like to call “Frankenfoods”—are the ones that feature a long string of tough-to-pronounce ingredients, which manufacturers add to extend shelf life, save on prep time, or simply to make the product taste better.

Additives like glutamates, emulsifiers, sulfites, and carrageenan are commonplace. And you’ll often find them listed on the ingredient labels of candy, ice cream, packaged baked goods, canned soups and fruit, sodas, breakfast cereals, oven-ready chicken nuggets and fish sticks, and other prepared meals.

Since 1990, ultra-processed food consumption has tripled. In fact, these Frankenfoods now comprise a good third of daily calories in the average American diet. So if you want my opinion, this latest study was long overdue.

It only featured 20 patients, but it was very tightly controlled. Study subjects all received three meals, of which they were free to eat as much or as little as they wanted within an hour. Researchers specifically designed the meals to match in terms of total calories, sugar and salt content, fiber content, and macronutrients.

But there was one key difference: One meal was mainly derived from ultra-processed foods, while the other was unprocessed.

Turns out, study participants on the ultra-processed diet gained two pounds during the study—and they ate an average of 500 more calories daily, at a faster pace than subjects on an unprocessed diet. Meanwhile, the subjects who consumed unprocessed food lost two pounds in the same time frame.

In conclusion? The authors point to limiting ultra-processed food consumption as a way to prevent obesity. And I’m sorry, but… why doesn’t everyone already know this?!

You’d think it would be obvious, but allow me to share a quick story: A doctor colleague of mine was in the documentary “SuperSize Me” way back in 2004. (This was when director Morgan Spurlock set out to eat McDonald’s^® for 30 days to see what happened to his health. Spoiler alert: The results were rather horrifying.)

But she didn’t see anything wrong with the concept. I certainly hope her tune has changed in the 15 years since, but nevertheless—this paints a clear picture of the kind of idiocy that runs rampant in the medical establishment.

And now, our entire population is supersized because of it.

Real food for everyone

Obesity and diabetes began to skyrocket when cheap corn, soy, sugar, and wheat—all prime ingredients used in ultra-processing—flooded the food supply. And that isn’t a coincidence at all.

These “foods” make up the bulk majority of American calorie intake. But somehow, this study—published not even a year ago now—is the first randomized, controlled trial to investigate whether this kind of diet might be destroying the public health.

That alone should tell you how seriously any of those mainstream nutrition “experts” are taking the problem. And these study authors aren’t any better when they suggest that, because they performed their research in an inpatient setting, their results don’t necessarily apply to the “real world.”

This is the type of stuff that drives me crazy. Because I don’t know what real world they live in. Simply step inside any fast food restaurant, and count how many customers buying jumbo sodas and “value meals” are overweight and obese. That will paint a pretty clear picture, too.

On the one hand, the study authors admit that eliminating ultra-processed foods aids weight loss—and that eating too many leads to weight gain. But their solution?

They suggest reformulating ultra-processed foods to be less “fattening.” Rather than, I don’t know… supporting open access to real, healthy food for everyone.

Consider the following quote, which left me too incredulous not to share:

“Policies that discourage consumption of ultra-processed foods should be sensitive to the time, skill, expense, and effort required to prepare meals from minimally processed foods —resources that are often in short supply for those who are not members of the upper socioeconomic class.”

Well how about we start there, then? Because until this disparity is closed—until something is done to eliminate food deserts and ensure that Happy Meals aren’t cheaper than fresh produce—nothing will ever change.

P.S. I always recommend a healthy, balanced diet full of lean proteins, fresh fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, olives, and full-fat, organic dairy to promote a healthy weight and to fight against virtually any chronic disease out there. I stay current on all of the latest data that comes out on diet and disease and present the facts to you here, in Reality Health Check, and in my monthly newsletter, Logical Health Alternatives. So if you haven’t already signed up, why not become a subscriber today? Click here now!

P.P.S. I’m thrilled to share with you that I’ll be launching my brand new Ageless Vision Protocol later this week! In it, you’ll learn my no-prescription plan to prevent eye disease, stop vision loss, and enjoy crystal clear eyesight for life. Stay tuned!

Source:

“Highly Processed Food Intake Leads to Overeating and Weight Gain.” Medscape Medical News, 05/20/2019. (medscape.com/viewarticle/913234)