Ultra processed foods study

[kikisparks]

I looked but didn’t see any other thread on this https://amp.theguardian.com/society/2023/nov/13/some-ultra-processed-foods-are-good-for-your-health-who-backed-study-finds

“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. Sauces, spreads and condiments are also bad for human health.

“But bread and cereals actually reduce someone’s risk of them – because they contain fibre – despite also being ultra-processed foods (UPF)” and “sweets and desserts, ready meals, savoury snacks and plant-based alternatives to meat products”
are not associated with increased risk.

So what I takeaway is that whilst eating less processed food on the whole is good, it is the type of foods that matter not just whether they are UPF or not. Bread and cereals are also often fortified with vitamins and minerals so there is that benefit too.

That's very interesting. I've noticed people trying to suggest that Quorn is an unhealthy UPF but the science is increasingly suggesting that it's much healthier than meat, which has been recognised as a carcinogen for years. Quorn contains fibre too.

Meat from the butchers is fine.

It's meat from the supermarkets that's not

Meat from the butchers is healthier than quorn

It’s like anything - everything in moderation is absolutely fine. UPF’s are just the latest bandwagon of focus.

Not necessarily, part of the issue with meat and sugary drinks seems to be lack of fibre, quorn has fibre whereas beef for example does not.

I suspect that whilst bread can be am UPF, the health-benefits of fibre out-weigh the other risks.

Or you could just make it at home, soda bread can be prepared in the time it takes to heat up the oven and contains 4 ingredients: flour, soda, salt and butter milk.

Are they talking Richmond sausages or organic locally sourced high meat content sausages?

Who paid for the study?

People seem to be commenting without actually reading the study. Red meat - even if it's organic, or from the butchers - is known to be carcinogenic. Especially if you eat it more than two or three times a week.

There's no evidence at all that a high-fibre food such as Quorn is anywhere near us unhealthy as meat.

From the article: "Some ultra-processed foods increase the risk of developing cancer, heart disease and diabetes – but others are good for you, new research into the demonised foodstuffs suggests. 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 those diseases.
However, several other major types of UPF previously seen as harmful: ... 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.

Good news bit fed up of the everything processed is bad for you, when some people have no choice to use UPFs as aren't able prepare these fresh healthy cooked from scratch meals. Tbh with all the forever chemicals, microplastics and other stuff in food/environment that's hard to avoid I'm not sure it's even worth worrying about latest food evil.

Austrian Academy of Sciences, Fondation de France, Cancer Research UK, World Cancer Research Fund International, and the Institut National du Cancer.

I've been a vegetarian for 30 years and feel no need to eat Quorn. Horrible stuff in my opinion. If I'm making a vegetarian shepherd's pie, bolognaise sauce or moussaka or whatever I just replace the meat with lentils, beans and veg. Much higher in fibre, more nutritious generally and tastes better.

People are generally very reluctant to admit meat is bad for us.

That’s fine and the way you eat sounds healthier in terms of the vitamins, minerals and fibre you’ll be getting from whole foods but it’s also fine to eat quorn or other meat substitutes according to this study.

I really hope this message reaches a wider audience. Most of us have enough on our plates without thinking that every single meal needs to be cooked from scratch.

It sends a very clear message that meat alternatives are much healthier than meat and that eating lots of fibre is something we should all focus on.

I struggle to reduce meat. Not sure what to substitute with with DC who won't eat chickpeas and are allergic to eggs and dairy. Not sure how to ensure their protein intake stays high enough.

It sends a very clear message that meat alternatives are much healthier than meat

No, it really doesn't. It says that meat alternatives are healthier than 'meat products' such as sausages. So processed meat. Not all meat.

I thought it was just red meat and proceeded meats which are considered to be carcinogens?

You could try meat alternatives? What do your meals look like now, maybe they can be veganised?

Some meals we have are:

Low salt and sugar baked Beans on toast with vegan cheese (Baked beans are one of Five a day)
Scrambled tofu on toast along with tomatoes and cucumber
Vegan Mac n cheese with peas and hidden butternut squash
Chickpea pasta (this kind of idea https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/holland-barrett-chickpea-penne-250g-6100002081) with tomato sauce and sweetcorn
Veggie sausages with sweet potato chips and green beans
Peanut noodles stir fry with cauldron marinated tofu, mushrooms and peppers
Veggie mince with peas and mashed sweet potato
Vegan cheese toastie with lentil soup
Warburtons protein bagels with peanut butter, jam and fruit
Vegan French toast made with tofu
Vegan pizza with hummus and falafels

I make more whole foods dishes as well which DD tends to refuse but I try to just exposing her to things. The chickpea pasta is thankfully a huge hit (she won’t eat chickpeas) which is good as it’s 20g protein per 100g.

This is what I take away from the article:
Reynalda Cordova, who led the study and works at both IARC and the University of Vienna, said the study had shown that consumers need to have easy access to fresh and less-processed foods

I also think suggesting quorn is healthier than red meat because it has fibre is a red herring.

At the moment processed meat is the only confirmed carcinogen whilst red meat is likely to be a carcinogen. Outside of these meats no other foods (unless you count alcohol and certain additives) are presently known or probable carcinogens.

That’s not the only thing to take from the article though. Some ultra processed foods (breads and cereals) are beneficial and many foods that have been demonised for being ultra processed have no known negative health effects.

On what basis is it a red herring?

On what basis is it a red herring

Because its talking about food items, not meals except for ready meals. Quorn is a relatively new food with far less research studies attached to it than meat.
The study doesn't look at the overall national values of unprocessed foods and lastly the studies main focus is on carcinogen foods.