Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee
Health & Fitness
Why do we all eat stuff that isn’t food and why can’t we stop? In this episode, Dr Chris van Tulleken, author of Ultra-Processed People explains all. As well as being one of the UK’s leading science broadcasters, Chris is a practising infectious diseases doctor in the NHS. He gained his medical degree at Oxford University and his PhD in molecular virology from University College London, where he is an associate professor. He works closely with the World Health Organization and UNICEF, and his research looks at how corporations affect human health.
In this episode, Chris explores what may be the biggest public health crisis of our time: ultra-processed food, or UPF, for short. Many people these days, certainly most regular listeners to this podcast, will be aware of UPFs. But there’s still a lot of confusion around what they really are. For Chris, it’s simple: if it’s wrapped in plastic and has at least one ingredient you wouldn’t find in a home kitchen, it’s a UPF. If it makes a health claim on the packet? Ironically, it’s even more likely!
A UPF is any food that’s processed industrially and created for big-business profit, rather than to provide nutrients. And here in the UK, UPF makes up 60 percent of the average diet. The trouble is, says Chris, UPFs have been shown to be the leading cause of early death in the world, ahead of tobacco. Even if you remain at what is considered a healthy weight, consuming UPFs still leaves you vulnerable to things like Type 2 Diabetes, heart disease, dementia, anxiety, depression, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer and eating disorders.
In this conversation, Chris provides a clear definition of the difference between processing and ultra-processing, and explains how our toxic food environment is designed to be addictive. We also discuss a whole range of different topics such as the need to see obesity as a condition and not an identity and the seemingly revolutionary idea that re-prioritising food shopping and cooking as a vital, enjoyable part of our day, could be a first step towards the societal change that’s urgently needed.
This podcast episode is not about shame or blame - it’s about education and empowerment. Chris is a brilliant communicator who insists the prevalence and appeal of UPFs is not our fault. I thoroughly enjoyed my conversation with him - I hope you enjoy listening.
Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore. For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com.
Find out more about my NEW Journal here https://drchatterjee.com/journal
Thanks to our sponsors:
https://zoe.com
https://calm.com/livemore
https://drinkag1.com/livemore
Show notes https://drchatterjee.com/414
DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#363 BITESIZE | The Best Type of Exercise to Reduce Stress and Anxiety | Dr Roger Seheult
#362 Dr Gabor Maté on The Mental Health Crisis: The Real Causes and Why Prince Harry Is No Different To The Rest of Us
#361 BITESIZE | How to Rewrite Your Own Life Story | John McAvoy
#360 Everything You Need To Know About Menopause with Professor Annice Mukherjee
#359 BITESIZE | How to Heal and Let Go of the Past | Julia Samuel
#358 How To Control Your Blood Sugar, Cut Cravings and Get Your Energy Back with Jessie Inchauspé
#357 BITESIZE | How to Master Your Sleep | Professor Russell Foster
#356 The Science of Longevity: Why Healthspan Matters More Than Lifespan with Dr Peter Attia
#355 BITESIZE | How to Stop Feeling Overwhelmed | Oliver Burkeman
#354 The Science of What Really Makes Us Tick, How Status Impacts Your Health & The Modern Epidemic of Perfectionism with Will Storr
#353 BITESIZE | This Powerful Tool Can Help You Find Freedom and Peace | Peter Crone
#352 How Exercise Helps Us Find Happiness, Hope, Connection and Courage with Dr Kelly McGonigal (Re-Release)
#351 BITESIZE | Do This Every Morning to Stop Procrastination | Mel Robbins
#350 The New Science of Eating Well with Professor Tim Spector
#349 BITESIZE | How to Find Inspiration Everywhere You Look | Light Watkins
#348 The New Addition To My Morning Routine: Master Your Mind Through Movement and Breathwork with Erwan Le Corre
#347 BITESIZE | How to Eat Your Way to Better Health | Dr Rupy Aujla
#346 Unlock The Power of Your Mind and Live Your Best Life Today with Lewis Howes
#345 BITESIZE | Why We Are All Addicts | Dr Anna Lembke
#344 What We All Need To Know About Human Emotions & How They Affect Our Behaviour with Batja Mesquita
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Doctor’s Kitchen Podcast
The Doctor’s Farmacy with Mark Hyman, M.D.
The School of Greatness
The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
The High Performance Podcast