While the trend toward lower amounts of micronutrients in many types of foods seems to be well established by now, people in developed nations rarely suffer from dangerous micro nutrient deficiency (rather from obesity) as far as I've seen. So processed foods are a mixed bag, as Hannah Ritchie points out.
If you recall my other post on calories and energy consumption, you might guess what my argument is; that the main problem isn't processed foods per se, or high carb vs low carb, but hyper palatable and energy-dense foods (which often are highly processed too). When you create foods with both a lot of carbs and a lot of fats, and usually smaller amounts proteins (eg pizza) you get a perfect storm of energy-denseness that's super tasty and easy to overeat. Most people that eat a lot of these kinds of foods will invariably gain weight and suffer all the other negative consequences from that (like insuline insensitivity or diabetes, heart disease etc). But not primarily because the foods are processed or lack in micronutrients, but because it results in a chronic overconsumption of calories.
I think causality is the question. From what I have read, once one begins developing insulin resistance, this hormone dysregulation causes the body to store energy as fat and seek out more food (overeat). That is, we don't gain weight because we over eat, but rather we over eat because we gained weight.
I suppose the question is, how does this cycle get kick-started in the first place? Some think that highly processed foods do not trigger the brain to sense that it is "full" in the same way that more "natural" products do. Not sure if I buy this, but more research is need.
I suspect that's part of the story. One can easily notice how easy it is to overeat certain foods (especially processed and very palatable foods) compared to, say, regular vegetables. (Not because they are natural per se, they're just not as palatable and energy-dense.)
Great article and spot on with so much that I've read on. The other interesting aspect to tie in here is Psychobiotics. I explore this a smidge with this essay on What's in a Brain, but the long story short, our gut health (driven as you accurate captured here) actually affects our Mental health.
Along with all of our inflametory and autoimmune issues from the stomach, we are also suffering unprecidented axiety, depression, and other mental health stresses
Psychobiotics is a new word for me :) Anecdotally, I have seen evidence that our microbiome has a greater impact on our health than science probably understands at this point. Mental health included. I will read this article, I look forward to it.
While the trend toward lower amounts of micronutrients in many types of foods seems to be well established by now, people in developed nations rarely suffer from dangerous micro nutrient deficiency (rather from obesity) as far as I've seen. So processed foods are a mixed bag, as Hannah Ritchie points out.
If you recall my other post on calories and energy consumption, you might guess what my argument is; that the main problem isn't processed foods per se, or high carb vs low carb, but hyper palatable and energy-dense foods (which often are highly processed too). When you create foods with both a lot of carbs and a lot of fats, and usually smaller amounts proteins (eg pizza) you get a perfect storm of energy-denseness that's super tasty and easy to overeat. Most people that eat a lot of these kinds of foods will invariably gain weight and suffer all the other negative consequences from that (like insuline insensitivity or diabetes, heart disease etc). But not primarily because the foods are processed or lack in micronutrients, but because it results in a chronic overconsumption of calories.
I think causality is the question. From what I have read, once one begins developing insulin resistance, this hormone dysregulation causes the body to store energy as fat and seek out more food (overeat). That is, we don't gain weight because we over eat, but rather we over eat because we gained weight.
I suppose the question is, how does this cycle get kick-started in the first place? Some think that highly processed foods do not trigger the brain to sense that it is "full" in the same way that more "natural" products do. Not sure if I buy this, but more research is need.
I'd recommend "the Hungry Brain" by Stephan Guyenet on this topic. Very naunced book that partly covers what we've discussed above. https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/29243729
Thanks! I will add this one to my list.
Sort of by chance I just listened to this episode of Stuart Richies podcast on this topic, I think you might enjoy it! https://www.thestudiesshowpod.com/p/episode-6-ultra-processed-foods
Will check it out!
I suspect that's part of the story. One can easily notice how easy it is to overeat certain foods (especially processed and very palatable foods) compared to, say, regular vegetables. (Not because they are natural per se, they're just not as palatable and energy-dense.)
Great article and spot on with so much that I've read on. The other interesting aspect to tie in here is Psychobiotics. I explore this a smidge with this essay on What's in a Brain, but the long story short, our gut health (driven as you accurate captured here) actually affects our Mental health.
Along with all of our inflametory and autoimmune issues from the stomach, we are also suffering unprecidented axiety, depression, and other mental health stresses
https://www.polymathicbeing.com/p/whats-in-a-brain
Psychobiotics is a new word for me :) Anecdotally, I have seen evidence that our microbiome has a greater impact on our health than science probably understands at this point. Mental health included. I will read this article, I look forward to it.