The Gymnag® Forum

07/11/2010 09:26:07 gymnag_Paul Administrator Posts: 92	I recommend you all read this commentary, it's long but well worth it. In short, and to not do the full article any justice, the thesis is that the increasing proportion of the general diet is now ultra-processed food (e.g. pre-packed foods, ready meals, biscuits and cakes) and these, being loaded with calories, are contributing to the obesity crisis facing many, and not just the wealthy, countries across the world. It also suggests that this type of food can become a soft addiction. Think about it for a moment - it's a fair assertion I think. Please click here to access the full commentary: Monteiro C. The big issue is ultra-processing. [Commentary] World Nutrition, November 2010; 1, 6: 237-269 -- Paul
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10/11/2010 07:00:15 Guest	Interesting article, like the points made about how the increasing availability and consumption of ultra processed foods are affecting peoples appetite regulation and also how foods can be dressed up as healthy if a few vitamins chucked in, like a lot of childrens breakfast cereals which are basically cheap rubbish.
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07/12/2010 10:57:47 gymnag_Paul Administrator Posts: 92	Carlos Monteiro has written another commentary following on from last month's article on ultra processed foods. This time he is discussing nutrient profiling and how it is marketing led rather than factual so pushing positive benefits (e.g. fortified with vitamins) to mask what is still unhealthy calorie loaded ultra processed food. The summary box at the start of the commentary is the best overview but if you have the time I highly recommend you log on to the World Public Health Nutrition Association website and read through it yourself - it's very interesting and has a couple of good real-life examples http://www.wphna.org/carlosmonteiroblog_dec2010.asp "Nutrient profiling: My advice Heavily advertised products are almost all ultra-processed. In general, the more heavily that any food and drink is advertised, the worse it is for human health, including your personal health and that of your family, and also the health and future of the planet. Ignore nutrient profiling. Avoid food and drink products that make or suggest claims based on their ‘nutrient profile’. In particular, do not buy such products for consumption by children. They are usually ultra-processed products (UPPs). What is typically significant about them is what is not included in the claim – such as high energy-density, heavy content of fat, sugar or salt, degraded basic ingredients, and use of chemical cosmetic and other additives to imitate real food. Enjoy delicious meals and dishes prepared using fresh and minimally processed foods that are naturally rich in nutrients. Relish family meals. This advice is most important for the sake of children. Carlos Monteiro" Reference: Monteiro C. The big issue is ultra-processing: Nutrient profiling is a disaster, [Column] Website of the World Public Health Nutrition Association, December 2010. Obtainable at www.wphna.org edited by gymnag_Paul on 10/01/2011 -- Paul
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10/12/2010 12:43:38 Guest	Here's an example of this in action: UB aims to drive snack growth with packaging revamp and saturated fat reduction http://www.bakeryandsnacks.com/Financial/UB-aims-to-drive-snack-growth-with-packaging-revamp-and-saturated-fat-reduction
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10/12/2010 14:36:45 Guest	While it's good these foods are going to be healthier there still going to be bad for you. At least there not marketing it as health food but they're probaly hoping people will now think it won't do that much harm and eat more of it which will only make the situation worse. I was watching a good BBC documentary a couple of weeks ago on breakfast cereals and it discussed how there was a big back lash against most cereals years ago, when it was discovered that most were just empty calories with no nutritional value. The manufacturers then added vitamins and minerals to replace those that had all been stripped from the food in the processing of it. They then turned this to there advantage by marketing the products as helping you get all your valuable vits and mins giving the impression that it was some kind of health food when really just over processed rubbish full of sugar and salt with a the equivalent of a vitamin pill thrown in!
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10/12/2010 15:46:53 Guest	That's basically what Carlos Monteiro is saying in his nutrient profiling commentary - they highlight the "good" and gloss over or omit to mention the rubbish that makes up the most it.
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11/12/2010 17:42:09 Guest	The bad it does to you will outweigh the good as by far!
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10/01/2011 12:35:14 gymnag_Paul Administrator Posts: 92	Carlos Monteiro has updated his commentary with his thoughts on the Food Pyramid and why it is flawed (e.g. the picture of a cake in the base!) and why a guide based on how processed foods are is a better way forwards. He also discusses why he believes bread is an ultra-processed food and why a sandwich is generally no better for you than a burger. For me the take-away (forgive the pun!) quote is: "Breads that are delicious consumed by themselves are a much better choice than bread that is only palatable as the outer parts of a sandwich or as the base of usually fatty or sugary spreads." I think this says it all - go for the wholegrain breads rather than white bread - you'll then get some nutritional value out of it. Read more on this here: http://www.wphna.org/2011_jan_wn4_comm_upp.htm Reference: Monteiro C. The big issue is ultra-processing. ‘Food Guide Pyramids’, and what’s the problem with bread. [Commentary] World Nutrition, January 2011, 2, 1: 22-41. Obtainable at www.wphna.org edited by gymnag_Paul on 10/01/2011 -- Paul
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04/02/2011 13:22:47 gymnag_Paul Administrator Posts: 92	The latest update to Carlos Monteiro's commentary on ultra processed food is now available. This month he's looking at carbs and how this is misleading. He says that using the term carbohydrates blurs the fundamental differences between fresh and minimally processed foods, such as grains and fruits, ingredients such as sugar and flour, and ultra-processed products such as packaged pizzas and sugared breakfast cereals. He also mentions the fact that modern food now has less fat, but this fat has often been replaced with sugar, which is a carb and so in the eyes of the consumer healthier, particularly when the product is marketed as low fat. Read more on this at http://www.wphna.org/2011_feb_wn4_cam5.htm Reference: Monteiro C. The big issue is ultra-processing. 'Carbs': The answer. [Commentary] World Nutrition, February 2011, 2, 2: 86-97. Obtainable at www.wphna.org -- Paul
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10/03/2011 15:37:29 gymnag_Paul Administrator Posts: 92	This month's commentary is all about food labelling. It's an interesting read covering the history of food labelling up to the present day nutritional information boxes. Carlos discusses how they are confusing and really are just advertising for the product, particularly for the energy dense ultra-processed foods, whereby they can add and highlight the added in vitamins etc. Additionally, he discusses how manufacturer's are essentially free to mention the good points about the product but the bad points about the product are concealed, for example big and bold text on the front of packet, but small and long/confusing ingredients lists. Read more at: http://www.wphna.org/2011_mar_wn4_labelling_fictions.htm Reference: C. Monteiro The big issue is ultra-processing. Labelling. The fictions. [Commentary] World Nutrition, March 2011, 2, 3: 136-147. Obtainable at www.wphna.org -- Paul
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15/04/2011 15:01:59 gymnag_Paul Administrator Posts: 92	I strongly recommend that you read this month's commentary as it discussed hydrogenated fats - i.e. trans fats and saturated fats and how they are a ticking time bomb causing heart disease and many deaths. It describes the origins of hydrogenation and the development of margarine, TV dinners and so on and how these fats, indeed he calls trans fats toxic (and calls for them to be made illegal - they are artificial) are in many of the prepared convenience foods and snacks that we eat. It's certainly an eye opener.... Reference: Monteiro C. The big issue is ultra-processing. The hydrogenation bomb. [Commentary] World Nutrition, April 2011, 2, 4: 176-194. Obtainable at www.wphna.org -- Paul
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