Removing/cutting down UPF

[RedRobyn2021]

Anyone else trying to remove / significantly cut down on UPF?

How have you found it?

I've just finished reading Ultra Processed People and over the last week have been beginning to make changes and remove things from our diet.

I've been making homemade bread every couple of days, have just realised there are emulsifiers in the yeast! Can't believe it. Have been trying to find some without any in but I'm struggling.

@RedRobyn2021 re cream cheese, Tesco's is ok. I haven't looked at others

@RedRobyn2021 ahh, thanks. Waitrose essential soft cheese is just milk and salt, I just checked the packet (and really nice). We tend to have either the hunter and gather Mayo or Dr wills all natural avocado one (depending on which is reduced😳😂). I keep thinking I will have a go at making it, but just never bother.

I've been doing this for a few weeks. I've done pretty well for myself, but I'm really struggling with the DC. So far, one or both has rejected: sourdough bread, homemade ice cream, homemade naan, Rocks squash, homemade chocolate sauce... I've had success with homemade chicken nuggets, and also garlic bread made from bread from Abel and Cole. It's also all really expensive or time consuming - almost every ready-made option is a premium brand.
It also mentions in the book about farmed salmon being fed on soya from the Amazon, so I've ordered wild-caught salmon, but that is twice as expensive.

Just went on to do my Sainsbury’s shop and you were right! Their own brand is fine! Thanks 😊

I must have missed that but about the salmon. Good Lord. I've just checked and you can buy wild salmon from sainsburys, it's not much more expensive either £5 for 230g v their farmed salmon which is £4 for 240g (with a nectar card)

There are definitely tricks to make it easier and cheaper - one of my favourites is keeping frozen berries in the freezer so you can add them to plain yoghurt, porridge or homemade granola (microwave if eating straight away). When cooking stuff like pizza sauce, stock, crumble topping or chilli, I just make double or triple and freezing the excess. Gadgets like bread machines really help too.

If you remember that a loaf of home-baked bread probably has a teaspoon or so of yeast in it, and only a small proportion of that yeast is UPF chemicals, then the amount you actually would eat in a slice is minuscule.

I was so annoyed when I realised dried yeast had emulsifiers in it - I've just bought 1kg of bakers yeast then divided it up and frozen it. I'm still getting used to using it but think it tastes slightly better

I've just started making condensed milk ice cream which was shared on the other thread and it is amazing! The best do far has been 'bakewell' ice cream which is flavoured with almond extract and strawberry jam

Not sure if it comes under UPF but is anyone avoiding seed oils? I want to know if groundnut oil is generally okay. I had fish and chips and it made me feel quite ill, film and taste in my mouth and belly ache. I don't know what oil they used at this particular one but my local uses groundnut oil, I don't think many use tallow anymore. I only have olive oil, coconut oil, goose fat and butter at home and rarely eat out but would like to be able to have the occasional fish and chips!

There's a lot of controversy about oils. I think the most concerning thing about seed oils relates to the way they are extracted which can be very industrial and use a lot of chemical, heat and mechanical processes that can be unhealthy. Cold pressed rapeseed oil is a different thing from your standard vegetable oil despite generally coming from the same plant.

I think there are two things to be wary of with chip shop oils - firstly that the oil is likely to be the highly refined type and secondly if they are reusing it that can make it even less healthy. Doesn't mean you can't make fish and chips an occasional treat but if you're getting a bad aftertaste, is it genuinely a treat?

@EmeraldFox Groundnut oil is usually made from peanuts. It’s typically very processed so people with allergies don’t typically get ill. It has a very high flashpoint so good for frying.
You might be better off with a different chippie if not liking the product.

Looks like no fish and chips then, the nearest that uses tallow is over an hour away!

I've never bought into UPF because we grow a lot of our own fruit and veg - self sufficient pretty much from April/May to September, so as I'm prepping the veg, I also prep the meat or whatever we're having with it. Obviously a bit late for this year..

Remember, there's a huge difference between processed food and UPF - they are far from the same.