She recommends trying to look past labels and focusing instead on the actual ingredients list to understand exactly what it is that you’re buying (and consuming). My personal tip: If a food or drink contains a number of ingredients that you’ve never heard of (or that sound like a chemical), then chances are it belongs in the UPF category. You can also see added sugars and sweeteners on this list, which can help us to make more informed decisions on what we eat. “Cardboard is low fat, low calorie, and low sugar, as well as being vegan and gluten free,” says Amati. “But I wouldn’t recommend eating it!”
Here, she shares the five top food and drinks that might sound healthy, but often aren’t:
Supermarket juice and smoothies
“A classic example of a ‘source of vitamins’ that are ‘made with real fruit’ and/or ‘1 of your 5 a day’, supermarket juices and smoothies are sweet beverages that contribute directly to increased risk of tooth decay in children, and risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes in adults.”
Protein bars
“These are often labeled as ‘high in protein, ‘paleo’, ‘keto,’ and ‘low in sugar’, and they often contains dozens of ingredients, many of which are artificial sweeteners and emulsifiers that we know are not helpful for our gut microbes and health.”
Breakfast cereals
“Again, breakfast cereals are ‘a source of vitamin D’, ‘made with whole grains’, ‘plant-based,’ and ‘contain iron’, but are mostly UPF: high in sugar or sweetener, low in nutritional value, and not a great way to start the day.”
Supermarket pastries and bread
“These are almost always UPF, have been frozen for weeks and cooked ‘fresh on site’ that morning. They can contain up to 30 ingredients, including different types of preservatives, emulsifiers, extracted sugars and starches, and artificial colors. Fresh bread or pastry only requires flour, water, yeast or sourdough, and an additional pinch of salt or butter for pastry.”
Children’s snacks
“The worst culprit. It’s almost impossible for parents to know that they’re UPF because they’re marketed so well. One of the highest rates of UPF consumption is in children under the age of two. They are often weaned on pouches and pre-packed finger foods–this should be an occasional treat, not a majority part of their diet. Examples of marketing terms include ‘encourages self-feeding’, ‘real fruit pieces,’ and ‘finger food’.”
READ MORE FROM VOGUE‘S WELLNESS COLUMN
Source link
credite