[Image: FMT]
A scary graphic that shows the share of ultra-processed food in adults’ diets across select countries has put South Africa in fourth place, with nearly 39% of our diet made up of these super addictive, but bad, food.
Ultra-processed foods are a high-calorie mix of refined carbs, fats, salt, and sugar which are rarely found in nature. These foods trigger cravings and overeating, with one study showing that people consuming ultra-processed diets eat an extra 1,000 calories per day compared to those on minimally processed diets.
Foods like chips, candy, and french fries are designed to be irresistible in particular, with “hyper-palatable” foods like french fries strongly activating the brain’s reward system, making them especially addictive.
America and the UK still lead the packs when it comes to bad eating habits, with Australia, South Africa and Mexico nibbling at their heels.
In particular, he has criticised the scale of additives in the American food supply, which have been shown to increase the risk of chronic health conditions, cancer, and fatty liver disease.
The UK’s second place becomes even scarier when considering 65% of children in that country have a diet that consists mostly of processed food.
There is no single definition of ultra-processed foods, but in general, they contain ingredients not used in home cooking. Many are chemicals, colourings and sweeteners, used to improve the food’s appearance, taste or texture. These foods have been linked to more than 30 different health problems, including heart disease, cancer and anxiety.
Soft drinks, sweets and chicken nuggets are all good examples, however, they can also include less obvious foods, including some breads, breakfast cereals and yoghurts.
For example, bread made from wheat flour, water, salt and yeast is a processed food. But when emulsifiers, colourings or preservatives are added, even bread becomes ultra-processed. According to public health expert Prof Maira Bes-Rastrollo of the University of Navarra in Spain, if a product contains more than five ingredients it is likely to be ultra-processed.
Perhaps it’s time we scrutinise the labels on our food more.
[Source: Visual Capitalist & BBC]
