Ultra processed living is a new way of life for many people in Britain. In a new survey of more than 2,000 people, eight out of 10 people said their diet was made up of ultra processed foods (UPFs).
The research by Viridian Nutrition also highlighted the fact three quarters of people think they consume less than they do, and a worrying three out of five can’t identify a UPF from its label.
Ultra processed foods can lead to serious health conditions, Aimee Bonbon, lead nutritionist at Viridian Nutrition, reviewed the evidence: “Research clearly shows the negative impact of ultra processed foods. A study of over 100,000 people in France linked UPFs with significantly higher rates of heart disease and strokes.
“There is also growing evidence on specific additives. Aspartame (an artificial sweetener) is now classified as a possible carcinogen by the World Health Organisation. Worryingly, this is still prevalent in foodstuffs, especially fizzy drinks.”
Over half the British diet is made up of UPFs, according to a report in the British Medical Journal.
Fuelling this is a huge gap in knowledge among consumers about the foods they’re eating every day.
For example, the new survey from Viridian found over six in ten people aren’t even sure what an ultra processed food is.
There is even more confusion when it comes to foods positioned as ‘healthy’ – 75 percent of respondents did not perceive UPFs like fruit-flavoured yoghurts and many highly processed lunch options as being ultra processed.
As well as fruit-flavoured yoghurt, other UPFs include:
- Ham
- Bread
- Fruit drinks
- Salad dressings.
As well as being unclear about the ingredients in food, there is also confusion about what’s in our supplements.
20 million people in the UK take supplements daily and they can help support nutritional gaps in people’s ultra processed diets.
But many commercially made supplements contain preservatives, glues, binders, fillers and other ingredients of no use to the body – known as excipients.
These add to people’s ultra processed intake and over half of those surveyed said they had no idea what the ingredients in their supplements were.
Viridian Nutrition has launched a nationwide ‘No Junk Campaign’ accompanied by the expert-led Viridian Dejunk your Life Report 2024 which contains detailed advice from qualified experts to help readers make sense of this confusion.
When asked about key additives, as many as seven in 10 don’t recognise certain ingredients or know if they are good or bad. The Viridian Dejunk Your Life Report contains details on 25 common excipients found in supplements.
Aimee Benbow said: “The European authorities no longer consider titanium dioxide a safe food additive because of its genotoxic effect so ask yourself why this is in your ‘healthy supplements?’. Look at the labels on the back of your supplements and if you spot this or any of the ingredients in the chart below then think twice before making the choice to take it.”
Registered nutrition practitioner and microbiologist Dr Carol Granger added: “All supplements are not created equal. Look on the labels of most supplements and you will find a list of ingredients you won’t expect, from additives to binders, lubricants to glues (yes, glues!). It’s crucial to know exactly what is in your supplements. Many of these substances have no benefit for the body, but they make manufacturing easier, so mass production is quicker, cheaper, and easier.”
“The form of your supplement matters too,” Dr Granger continued. “Whether it’s a tablet, capsule, or powder will affect the way your body will absorb it. Few people know for example, that it’s much harder for the body to absorb ingredients from tablets than from capsules. Tablets also need more manufacturing and more ingredients to make them stable; their manufacturing processing means they usually need chemicals, colourants, and other artificial ingredients.”
For a list of ingredients to watch for and the health concerns associated with them, see the chart here from Viridian’s experts. Among the additives most commonly found in supplements are magnesium stearate, carrageenan, calcium phosphate and even talc. These can all have side effects including digestive problems (magnesium stearate), increases in inflammation (carrageenan), allergies and hyperactivity (colourings) and are all unnecessary. Ingredients like these are used only to make manufacturing easier, so mass production is quicker and they have no benefits for the body.
Aimee Benbow added: “Reading the label is the best way to understand what you are taking and how healthy it is. Whether that’s a food or a supplement, there will be many ingredients used to alter the texture, colour, and taste, as well as preserve it for longer. Dig deeper and question anything you don’t understand. Independent health stores are great places to go for health products and advice.”
Find a full list of supplement additives in the Viridian Dejunk Your Life Report where Viridian has gathered leading experts in their fields to give consumers advice on dejunking not only their diets but also their entire lives. The report provides detailed feature-length, fully-referenced expert articles in each of the following areas to help people to better health this year:
● De-process your diet and identify ultra processed foods
● Read the labels on foods and supplements and choose the purest options
● Simplify your digital life
● Free up your brain space
● Clear the clutter from your home and work space
● Maximise your time by doing less
● Edit your relationships for more connection
● Exercise in a way that’s proven to work
● Use behavioural psychology to create habits that stick in 2024
To find out more about No Junk, or to download Dejunk Your Life Report, visit: www.viridian-nutrition.com/nojunk
