Why the Last Thing You Should Ever Eat is Ultra Processed Foods: It Kills 11 Million People a Year

Mark Hyman

Apr 12, 2024

Episode description

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In the health space, we hear the term ultra-processed foods thrown around often for its clear link to chronic diseases such as depression, Alzheimer’s, and diabesity. But what exactly does “ultra-processed” mean? How can you tell if a food is ultra-processed?

In today’s Health Bites episode, we will learn exactly what ultra-processed foods are, how to identify them, their impact on human health, and the global economy. We’ll also discuss tips and tricks for how to read food labels to better navigate the grocery store, and the innovations happening in Washington to develop label laws that helps protect the consumer.

In this episode, I discuss:

Definition, examples, and deceptive health claims of ultra-processed food (2:06)
Health risks and impacts of ultra-processed food (7:30)
Case study: impact of an ultra-processed diet on twin girls (10:00)
History and rise of processed food (12:09)
Difference between ultra-processed and minimally processed foods (17:45)
Impact of food packaging and additives on health (24:01)
Economic and societal consequences of chronic diseases caused by poor diet (28:04)
Identifying ultra-processed foods and understanding food labeling (35:00)
Avoiding ultra-processed foods and using food scoring systems (40:50)

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Mindsip insights from this episode:

Eliminate ultra-processed foods to reduce mortality risk

Ultra-processed food is the number one cause of death in the world today, surpassing smoking, according to the Global Burden of Disease study.

#mortality

#processed-food

Avoid ultra-processed foods to prevent excess calorie intake

A controlled NIH study found that people given unlimited access to ultra-processed food automatically ate 500 more calories per day compared to those eating whole foods.

#calories

#processed-food

Avoid health claims on food labels to make better grocery choices

A practical rule of thumb for shopping is that if a food product has a health claim on its label, it is likely not good for you.

#nutrition

Avoid ultra-processed fake meats for better health

Many popular fake meats, like Impossible Burger and Beyond Meat, are considered ultra-processed science projects made from deconstructed industrial ingredients, not health foods.

#nutrition

#processed-food

Enhance deep sleep with Essentia performance mattress

A double-blind sleep study showed that sleeping on an Essentia performance mattress can increase the time spent in REM and deep sleep by up to 60%.

#sleep

#testing

Incorporate glycemic load in food classification systems to combat insulin resistance

A major flaw in many food classification systems, like the Food Compass, is the exclusion of glycemic load, which is the single biggest driver of insulin resistance.