How Can We Stop People Eating Themselves To Depression And Death?

How can we stop people eating themselves to depression and death?

Ray Hill
Founder and Secretary of the Health Food Institute

From what I can gather about ultra-processed foods it appears the more of them one consumes the quicker one leaves this planet.

Okay, that's a bit over the top. However, a very recent article in The Times said, "Eating lots of ultra-processed foods may send you to an early grave and may make you depressed and anxious, a review of evidence has concluded."

While I am hesitant to question The Times' order of events, I would have preferred to read that one would become depressed and anxious before arriving at an early grave, since it disrupts my belief that heaven is the ultimate haven of peace and tranquility!

Now to focus on more serious issues relating to consuming food that bears no relation to what the body needs. According to a study in the British Medical Journal, 32 damaging health outcomes come from eating chocolate in its many forms, a host of sweetened breakfast cereals and, not least, mass-produced ready meals.

Academics in Australia examined existing data of nearly ten million people from countries around the world and then divided them into groups according to their level of consumption of ultra-processed food. Those eating the most were found to be at a 55% greater risk of dying young and a 21% risk of dying from heart disease.

Depending on the amount consumed, these foods also created mental health outcomes with high consumption giving a 22% greater risk of depression and a 50% risk of anxiety and poor sleep.

Type 2 diabetes, obesity, cancer and heart disease are diseases which increase in line with the levels of consumption of these foods. When it is pointed out that over half the British diet is made up of ultra-processed food it is not surprising that the NHS is inundated with seriously ill patients, and we are one of the countries with the highest number of excess deaths (although I need to say it is not the only cause of deaths at this time since factors relating to the pandemic are also playing their part).

The public needs to understand the processes the ingredients of ultra-processed foods go through, yet still retain the name of the original food in the ingredient list on the packaging.

In order for the public to be fully aware of what they are purchasing to feed themselves and their families, every ingredient that has been ultra-processed should have the words 'ultra-processed' preceding the product name, or the letters U-P in capitals. It will require an element of suitably placed advertising to encourage people to read the labels on foods they are selecting to eat.

Just a reminder, ultra-processed foods are made using industrial processes, including splitting whole foods into oils, fats and sugar and recombining them. They tend to be sold ready-made low in nutrients and fibre, and with the addition of a variety of additives.

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