DNANUTRICOACH®’s Post

Out on my morning walk this morning and I realised how there could be a misconception when it comes to processing food. No, I don't mean ultra-processed food. Let me explain... We all process our food. When we take a carrot and cook it we're essentially processing our food. The carrot is no longer in its original raw form. That's fine and foods like beans, nuts, some vegetables, etc. need to go through a process for optimal human digestion. However, ultra-processed is a completely different game... Ultra-processed is taking corn and turning it into cornflakes. Do cornflakes represent corn in any way? No. So, how did "they" turn corn into cornflakes? Through ultra-processing. There are many red flags and challenges with this. However, to keep things simple when a food is ultra-processed it's turned into a product that has ZERO representation of the original food and the end result loses nearly ALL of its nutritional value. Think: vitamins, minerals etc. This leads to not getting the vitamins and minerals we need to thrive. Then, we wonder why we're tired, have no energy, have brain fog, and feel like sh*t. While the food-like product (I don't call it food) is "eatable", I wonder what people are actually eating because it's not that corn you see in the fields... 😬 I hope that helps in understanding the difference between processing our food and ultra-processed food. They are very different. I would love to speak more about this on my podcast. If you know any experts who can speak about this topic, tag them below. If you'd like to speak about this topic, leave a comment below. #food #foodindustry #foodsystem #ultraprocessedfood #processingfood

Bread doesn't need numbers in it... Unless you want it to sit on a supermarket shelf and appear 'fresh' for an unusually long time, there's no purpose for them. No nutritional benefits No flavour benefits that you can't get through natural ingredients. Nothing... Numbers, processing aids, emulsifiers and unnatural preservatives are some of those things we don't need in our diet these days. Especially in bread. It might partly explain why everyone started feeling a bit crap after eating soft white bread over the past few decades. For thousands of years before that, we'd already figured out how to make something delicious and nutritious. It's called sourdough. Flour. water. salt, malt. Four simple ingredients with no added nasties. And when you take your time to make it, it's such good bread. Artificial ingredients only destroy it.

Are you confused about the debate around processed foods? 🍚🥗🥨 NOVA is a system that classifies foods based on their level of processing, often marking Ultra Processed Foods (UPF) as unhealthy. Experts say this system fails to group foods based on the nutrients they contain. Here’s the catch - not all UPFs are bad for you. Take brown bread, for instance; it’s labelled as a UPF but can be a healthy addition to your diet. Some other processed foods that have health benefits include: 🥕 Canned Vegetables 🍅 Tomato Sauce 🥜 Peanut Butter 🥣 Fortified Cereals 🥛 Fortified plant-based milks 🫒 Olive Oil 🔑  Before we dismiss all UPFs as unhealthy, it’s worth understanding the processes that foods go through and whether that really affects our health in a positive or negative way. ⚠️ Consider this: For many, especially those facing food insecurity, processed foods are often a vital source of calories. We believe that destigmatizing UPF choices and having an open and inclusive conversation about the benefits and drawbacks of these foods is essential in supporting access to nutritious food for everyone. Let’s reshape the debate about processed foods. This post was made in collaboration with Bryant Research @bryantresearch_uk View the original post here: https://lnkd.in/ekgD62KF

Concern about #processedfoods is nothing new, but in recent years, a new term has gained popularity: “ultraprocessed foods.” Is this just a buzzword to generate alarm about the same foods we’ve always been warned to steer clear of, or is there more to the conversation? We explore what makes these foods different, how they became so prominent and how you can identify and avoid them: https://lnkd.in/g3Vy_Yi5

As soon as the weekend hits, I like to grab a few packet of uncle chips, get Amul cheese and dip into mayonnaise. I consider Saturdays, Faturdays. I would say that my intake of ultraprocessed foods (UPF) is 5% or lower every week. As the below research shows, consuming a high amount of ultraprocessed food is linked to chronic kidney disease (CKD) risk. In this study 219,132 adults, (56% women, 44% men) who had no known health conditions were studied. The results of the meta-analysis suggested that the highest UPF intake was associated with an increased risk of incident CKD. ~~~ What are ultra processed foods? Ultra-processed foods are foods that have been significantly changed from their original state and often contain added salt, sugar, fat, additives, preservatives, and/or artificial colors. They are typically made from chemically modified ingredients, which are assembled to create ready-to-eat meals. Cereals, jams, frozen dinners, soft drinks, chips, instant soups, packaged breads are all examples of ultraprocessed foods. ~~~ Recommendation: Try eating cooked meals with as many fresh ingredients as possible. ~~~ Find the study in the comments below.

The NHS said that what makes processed foods unhealthy are ingredients such as salt, sugar, and fat, which are added to processed foods to make their flavor more appealing and extend their shelf life. However, I somewhat disagree with this statement because we find fat naturally in avocados, and no one is addicted to avocados, nor are they considered an unhealthy food. We find healthy, natural, and normal sugar in mangoes. No one is addicted to mangoes, nor are there any cardiac events or health consequences that come from overeating mangoes. We have natural, salty flavor in sodium coming from celery, yet no one is addicted to celery or experiencing negative consequences from the overconsumption of celery. Therefore, there is more to processed foods than just salt, sugar, and fat. I would argue that there are actual chemicals in these foods that are driving addictive behavior. These chemical compounds, along with the heavy processing that strips away fiber and water—all the things that actually keep the body and brain healthy—cause addictive behavior with processed food and lead to negative consequences for the body. While processed food can drive depression, actual whole foods with minerals, like this celery juice I drank this morning, can help you overcome depression and reverse the symptoms of depression. You really cannot compare these two sodium sources.

🌱 Sugar Reduction in Pastries: A Path to Healthier Baking? 🍰 As food manufacturers and bakers strive to create healthier products, replacing sugar with functional ingredients is emerging as a key strategy. Reducing sugar in pastries and bakery goods can help address health issues such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cognitive impairment. 🍪 But sugar isn't just a sweetener—it plays many roles, from improving dough structure and extending shelf life to enhancing texture and flavor. So, how can we replace it without sacrificing quality? 🔄 Innovative Solutions for Sugar Substitution: Researchers and food scientists are exploring the use of various substitutes, such as: 🍏 Apple puree 🌾 Inulin 🍇 Grape juice/syrup 🥥 Stevia 🌴 Date powder/syrup 🍎 Dried apples These alternatives have shown improvements in texture, sensory properties, and nutritional benefits when substituted for sugar in products like cakes, muffins, pies, and bread. The result? Healthier options that still deliver the great taste and quality consumers expect, while addressing environmental and health concerns. 🌍 #FoodInnovation #HealthyBaking #SugarReduction #FoodScience #PastryInnovation #SustainabilityInBaking #BakeryTrendnds

"This or That“ - Multi Grain vs. White Bread It's time for another round of This or That! Let's dive into bread options: Multi grain bread vs. white bread. Which is the winner nutritionally when making sandwiches or toast? 🍞 Multi Grain Bread: ✅ Made from wholegrains ✅ Higher fibre keeps you fuller longer ✅ Less impact on blood sugar White Bread: ❌Made from refined grains ❌ Lacking in satiating fibre and nutrients ❌ Quickly spikes blood sugar levels ❌ Linked to weight gain and inflammation While both breads can work in moderation, multi grain has some nutritional advantages with extra fibre, and far less influence on blood sugar. Seek out varieties made with added seeds for an extra healthy crunch! The best bread is from artisan bakers as they don’t rely on additives and other nasties to speed up the proving process and increase shelf-life. Let me know what other “This or That” food comparisons would be helpful for making better choices!

Love Fried Foods but Worried About the Fat? Discover Low-Fat Solutions with Spraying Technology! We all adore the taste, aroma, and crunchy texture of fried foods. They’re a staple of our favorite fast food indulgences. But the high saturated fat content associated with traditional deep-fat frying (DFF) poses health risks like coronary heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension. Enter innovative food spraying techniques! Saturn’s Spinning Disc Technology, developed in collaboration with top European Food Technology Centers, offers a breakthrough in reducing fat content in fried foods. The precision all-over spraying with Saturn’s DiscMaster™ and DiscMatic™ products ensures that low-fat doesn’t mean low-flavor. By applying a barrier emulsion to food before frying, we block rapid oil uptake during cooking, resulting in delicious, low-fat products that taste just as good as their full-fat counterparts. Plus, specialist oils applied before oven baking achieve equally outstanding results, offering a healthier alternative without sacrificing taste or texture. Want to know more about how food spraying can transform your favorite fried foods into healthier options? https://lnkd.in/dMkge8Mu

If you observe your grocery shopping basket, does it consist mainly of whole foods (vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, wholegrain foods, fish, meat, eggs) or does it contain foods like breakfast cereals, crisps, ready-made meals, frozen pizzas, processed meat products, margarine, candies, cookies, ice-cream, soda, ice-tea? In my latest blog post I cover what are unprocessed, processed and ultra-processed foods; what are the health implications when consuming a lot of ultra-processed foods as well as some statistics by countries, where ultra-processed foods form the largest part of the diet. Click here to read the full article: https://lnkd.in/dwhKm2Aa