4 ms·

Does cereal count as "ultra-processed"? Things like Cheerios don't seem much more processed than bread from what I can tell. Also honey-roasted peanuts? My und

by sparrc 5y ago

Does cereal count as "ultra-processed"? Things like Cheerios don't seem much more processed than bread from what I can tell. Also honey-roasted peanuts? My understanding of ultra-processed would be things more like candy, cheetos, pringles, oreos, soda, etc.

paulryanrogers 5y ago
Check the nutrition facts on honey roasted peanuts. I was shocked at how many carbs a serving includes. Now I just eat dry roasted peanuts, and not too many since they too have plenty of carbs. It's hard to find a simple rule that isn't subverted. Though simpler more primitive diets (mostly low carb vegetables and high protein foods) seem best all around. It's sad to see folks think they've leveled up enough to 'cheat' after loading up on yams ("veg!"), carrots ("veg"), and beans ("protein!").
- asdff 5y ago
  What is wrong with carbs? If I don't have carbs while working all day I get tired. That stuff is brain fuel.
  - paulryanrogers 5y ago
    Carbs themselves are fine. It's the quantities, especially those in the form of sugars, that are excessive. All that said you can live without carbs and just digest fats instead. Hence the whole ketosis and low-sugar diets.
deep-root 5y ago
Check out the ingredients of Cheerios, which says a bit about the process of making them and the attempt to restore some nutrition: https://www.wdbqschools.org/Downloads/Cereal-Cheerios.pdf https://www.wdbqschools.org/Downloads/Cereal-Cheerios.pdf Probably Wonder Bread would look similar, but homemade bread quite different. All are processed foods of some level due to flour.
- nitwit005 5y ago
  We've been deliberately fortifying foods since the 1930s to try to reduce incidence of diseases caused by lack of some vitamin or other micronutrient, which has seemed to be effective. You're required to add it for some products, although I believe quite a bit is still voluntary.
f6v 5y ago
Depends on what you mean by "cereal". Oats that you mix with nuts and fresh berries? No, unlike all those sugar-infested abominations of a breakfast food packaged in colourful boxes.
armchairhacker 5y ago
Nuts and cereals like shredded wheat aren’t ultra-processed. But check the labels, a lot of nuts and cereal have added sugar and even oil. Cheerios seem surprisingly healthy (the first ingredient is whole grain oats and only 1g of added sugar). Even special K has 4g of added sugar per serving. I would consider sugar-coated cereal like raisin bran or special K with yogurt chunks ultra-processed.

by sparrc 5y ago

paulryanrogers 5y ago

Check the nutrition facts on honey roasted peanuts. I was shocked at how many carbs a serving includes. Now I just eat dry roasted peanuts, and not too many since they too have plenty of carbs. It's hard to find a simple rule that isn't subverted. Though simpler more primitive diets (mostly low carb vegetables and high protein foods) seem best all around. It's sad to see folks think they've leveled up enough to 'cheat' after loading up on yams ("veg!"), carrots ("veg"), and beans ("protein!").

asdff 5y ago
What is wrong with carbs? If I don't have carbs while working all day I get tired. That stuff is brain fuel.
- paulryanrogers 5y ago
  Carbs themselves are fine. It's the quantities, especially those in the form of sugars, that are excessive. All that said you can live without carbs and just digest fats instead. Hence the whole ketosis and low-sugar diets.

deep-root 5y ago

Check out the ingredients of Cheerios, which says a bit about the process of making them and the attempt to restore some nutrition: https://www.wdbqschools.org/Downloads/Cereal-Cheerios.pdf https://www.wdbqschools.org/Downloads/Cereal-Cheerios.pdf Probably Wonder Bread would look similar, but homemade bread quite different. All are processed foods of some level due to flour.

nitwit005 5y ago
We've been deliberately fortifying foods since the 1930s to try to reduce incidence of diseases caused by lack of some vitamin or other micronutrient, which has seemed to be effective. You're required to add it for some products, although I believe quite a bit is still voluntary.

f6v 5y ago

Depends on what you mean by "cereal". Oats that you mix with nuts and fresh berries? No, unlike all those sugar-infested abominations of a breakfast food packaged in colourful boxes.

armchairhacker 5y ago

Nuts and cereals like shredded wheat aren’t ultra-processed. But check the labels, a lot of nuts and cereal have added sugar and even oil. Cheerios seem surprisingly healthy (the first ingredient is whole grain oats and only 1g of added sugar). Even special K has 4g of added sugar per serving. I would consider sugar-coated cereal like raisin bran or special K with yogurt chunks ultra-processed.