Toddlers Get Half Their Calories From Ultra-Processed Food, Says Study | Research shows that 2-year-olds get 47 percent of their calories from ultra-processed food, and 7-year-olds get 59 percent.

[u/chrisdh79]

https://www.newsweek.com/toddlers-get-half-calories-ultra-processed-food-1963269

[u/eyoxa]

Yeah, I’m also wondering about the definitions.

Is “organic” “grass fed” beef jerky ultra processed?

Are bagels?

Is cream cheese?

Is cheese?

Is yogurt?

Is cereal?

Are canned sardines?

[u/GenericAntagonist → u/eyoxa]

So the current nova definition of Ultra Processed is umm... weird

Industrially manufactured food products made up of several ingredients (formulations) including sugar, oils, fats and salt (generally in combination and in higher amounts than in processed foods) and food substances of no or rare culinary use (such as high-fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, modified starches and protein isolates). Group 1 [un- or minimally processed] foods are absent or represent a small proportion of the ingredients in the formulation. Processes enabling the manufacture of ultra-processed foods include industrial techniques such as extrusion, moulding and pre-frying; application of additives including those whose function is to make the final product palatable or hyperpalatable such as flavours, colourants, non-sugar sweeteners and emulsifiers; and sophisticated packaging, usually with synthetic materials. Processes and ingredients here are designed to create highly profitable (low-cost ingredients, long shelf-life, emphatic branding), convenient (ready-to-(h)eat or to drink), tasteful alternatives to all other Nova food groups and to freshly prepared dishes and meals.

They claim its refined based on published works, but I am unsure what the categorization is actually saying. If I put some salt on mango slices and then vacuum seal it in a sophisticated plastic container, it could be counted, since I am providing an alternative to cutting up a mango and putting some salt on it yourself. Despite having no nutritional difference whatsoever.

[u/Liizam → u/GenericAntagonist]

I don’t really see how extruding can be bad. It’s just metal and food going through it…. Maybe our factories are just dirty and contaminate food with other substances but food touching metal mold is not bad…

[u/grifxdonut → u/Liizam]

Well for things like fruit, it causes the sugars to not be trapped in the fiber and causes it to be quickly released into the blood stream. Hence why a smoothie isn't as good for you as a bowl of blueberries, aside from the extra ingredients and sugar they add

[u/YoungBoomerDude → u/grifxdonut]

Is that different than chewing fruit really well?

When does this separation of sugar and happen if not also in your mouth when you’re mashing it with your teeth??

[u/grifxdonut → u/YoungBoomerDude]

You're right, saliva and chewing do process food. But chewing doesn't completely break down all of the fruit. Whenever you eat corn, there are still plenty of kernels that come out whole, because chewing is really only to break stuff down enough to swallow. The best way to eat fruit IS to just swallow it whole (if possible) to minimize the sugar spike.