Ultra-processed people

Ultra-Processed People by Chris van Tulleken

Whether we like it or not the world of UPF or Ultra Processed Food is all around us. Irelands diet is made up of 46% UPF on average which really is rather a lot considering we produce a lot of food too.
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This is not the first book on UPF that I have read but thought this one would be interesting, and it does not disappoint. Chris urges us at the beginning to not stop eating UPF which was a surprise. Instead, he brings us on a journey of discovery of science, economics, history and production of ultra-processed food. The choice to eat healthily is more than just a personal decision and sterling will power. Our food environments are taken over with these UPF products and it makes it almost impossible to make healthy choices. This book will make you understand why. At the end of the day our health has suffered extensively because of these foodstuffs and for many the realization of their toxicity is a catalyst to change.  Needless to say, he does the self-experiment of eating just this way after a “clean” diet and he reports on his progress and health outcomes….

By the end of the book, you can make up your own mind on what to eat. The Ultra Processed Food industry is complex and self-perpetuating. To increase their share of the market means real food has to be removed.

Surrounding ourselves and protecting real food is part of the recovery process. We are working on it!

Anne Maher