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Food for thought: Interesting article in LA Times about American Diet
bisky
Posts: 1,119 Member
Karen Kaplan Karen KaplanContact Reporter
Researchers who have analyzed America’s eating habits say they can sum up what’s wrong with our diet in just two words: ultra-processed foods.
These foods -- a group that includes frozen pizzas, breakfast cereals and soda -- make up 58% of all calories Americans consume in a typical day. Not only that, they delivered 90% of the added sugars that Americans ate and drank, according to a study published Wednesday in the medical journal BMJ Open.
Government health experts advise Americans to get no more than 10% of their total calories in the form of added sugars. But most us aren’t listening. Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have said that 71% of American adults exceeded that 10% goal, and that added sugars accounted for 15% of all the calories they consumed.
All of that added sugar makes people more likely to be overweight or obese. That, in turn, sets them up for serious health problems like Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer (not to mention lots of cavities).
Rest of Article: http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-ultra-processed-foods-diet-20160309-story.html
Researchers who have analyzed America’s eating habits say they can sum up what’s wrong with our diet in just two words: ultra-processed foods.
These foods -- a group that includes frozen pizzas, breakfast cereals and soda -- make up 58% of all calories Americans consume in a typical day. Not only that, they delivered 90% of the added sugars that Americans ate and drank, according to a study published Wednesday in the medical journal BMJ Open.
Government health experts advise Americans to get no more than 10% of their total calories in the form of added sugars. But most us aren’t listening. Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have said that 71% of American adults exceeded that 10% goal, and that added sugars accounted for 15% of all the calories they consumed.
All of that added sugar makes people more likely to be overweight or obese. That, in turn, sets them up for serious health problems like Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer (not to mention lots of cavities).
Rest of Article: http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-ultra-processed-foods-diet-20160309-story.html
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Getting off of processed foods was a game changer in managing my pain by diet. Thanks for the review of the article.0
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I think part of the problem is the term "added sugars". It is pretty vague. Does it mean all sucrose, glucose and fructose? Does it include products made from flour like bread, which the body converts to glucose faster that granulated table sugar?
As far as I can tell, only veggies, dairy, and fruit have sugar that isn't added. What if someone is practically a fruitarian like my eldest son? They get way more sugar than someone one who is trying to follow a lower sugar diet like the Mediterranean or South Beach diet. 10% of my son's sugar intake is vastly different than mine! I generally have well under 5 g of sugar per day, so I could have maybe of a gram of added sugar? My son could probably have a candy bar every day and stay within that 10%.
They need to set a hard line, IMO. No more than X grams of sugar per day, determined by sex and age, almost all of which (90%) should come from veggies, fruit, and milk products. This wishy washy stuff isn't helping many.0 -
I think part of the problem is the term "added sugars". It is pretty vague. Does it mean all sucrose, glucose and fructose? Does it include products made from flour like bread, which the body converts to glucose faster that granulated table sugar?
As far as I can tell, only veggies, dairy, and fruit have sugar that isn't added. What if someone is practically a fruitarian like my eldest son? They get way more sugar than someone one who is trying to follow a lower sugar diet like the Mediterranean or South Beach diet. 10% of my son's sugar intake is vastly different than mine! I generally have well under 5 g of sugar per day, so I could have maybe of a gram of added sugar? My son could probably have a candy bar every day and stay within that 10%.
They need to set a hard line, IMO. No more than X grams of sugar per day, determined by sex and age, almost all of which (90%) should come from veggies, fruit, and milk products. This wishy washy stuff isn't helping many.
Bingo!
I seem to recall that the final guidelines (post-lobbying) took a softer stance than recommended in the Scientific Report of the Advisory Committee that preceded it - which may explain how the excessive, wishy-washy "10% added sugars" concept proved sticky when it should have dissolved!0 -
GaleHawkins wrote: »Getting off of processed foods was a game changer in managing my pain by diet. Thanks for the review of the article.
It was an interesting article and I hope there will be more research into this area even though it does not seem popular.
I try to get majority of sugar from fruit and vegetables but I do love my chocolate and wine!
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So much vegan propaganda in the comment section. Almost made me want to stir up some controversy in there, but meh, too lazy.0
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Interesting article. Thanks for posting!0
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These foods -- a group that includes frozen pizzas, breakfast cereals and soda -- make up 58% of all calories Americans consume in a typical day.
^^ i will be honest and say that when i was at my heaviest and eating my worst and not taking care of myself, the above diet was probably about 95% of my typical day.0 -
Well, I run an organic farm and raise pasture raised lamb and chicken so I've always had a diet filled with vegetables and healthy meats. And I still got fat when I quit smoking.
I think that is 1 reason I have lost nothing in the last 30 days of 50 carbs a day or less. I was eating a pretty good diet to begin with. It did need some tweaking, all those homemade breads, pies and cakes didn't disappear by themselves.0 -
As long as food manufacturers have bushel baskets of money to buy up scientists and legislators (which will probably be until half past forever) nothing will change. We can try to educate our friends and loved ones, preferably by example rather than lecture, but that's about it. We Americans are no longer citizens; we're single-unit profit centers.0
This discussion has been closed.