What is ultra-processed food? Why do things like sweets and crisps fall under the same ultra-processed label as plant milks and cereals?
Produced by and co-hosted with MSc Health Psychology student, Emily McLaughlin, we asked how ultra-processed foods are defined, how they affect our health, and how we’re supposed to navigate our consumption of them.
In each episode, we dive into the evidence behind issues that matter to you. Dr Sam Dickens (Research Fellow at UCL) explained the findings from his latest trial testing the impact of ultra-processed and minimally-processed diets on weight and cardiovascular health. Sam talked about using the EatWell guidance, how we need to change food systems instead of shaming individuals’ choices, and he advised that we should ignore diet advice on social media.
Resources and recommendations
The journal article we discussed:
“Ultraprocessed or minimally processed diets following healthy dietary guidelines on weight and cardiometabolic health: a randomized, crossover trial” by Dicken and colleagues and published in Nature Medicine, link here
The headlines covered:
“Ultra-processed food linked to harm in every major human organ, study finds” published in the Guardian, link here
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The views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or The Science or Fiction Podcast.
