3 ms·

The processing doesn't really bother me much, because AFAIK, processing itself has no relevance to health. The problems with modern postindustrial diets are tha

by uses 5y ago

The processing doesn't really bother me much, because AFAIK, processing itself has no relevance to health. The problems with modern postindustrial diets are that calories are too cheap, available, and delicious. I think the best long term solution to this will be some kind of food science that adds "filler" to delicious foods that simply passes through the system and adds bulk without decreasing deliciousness or adding excessive calories. All the attention to healthy lifestyles is great but it will continue to only be practiced by the minority of people with the resources (mental, cultural, monetary, etc) to spend on those considerations. Meanwhile obesity, heart disease, etc is a major drag on our collective health and QOL.

meiraleal 5y ago
the "fillings" and empty calories are what we call "salad". And the excess of processing by the digestive system also comes with a cost.
oliwarner 5y ago
> processing itself has no relevance to health My understanding is at odds with yours. Problems extend well beyond calorie density. "Processing" covers a lot of things but is often performed for shelf-life reasons. Preservatives are introduced. Ingredients are cooked at very high temperatures to eliminate ambient storage issues. Processing also allows recipes to be precisely tweaked by committee, adding salt, artificial flavourings, and [often controversial] sweeteners. Colourants are dictated by marketing too. Aside from probable direct chemical issues, these flavour- and sodium- hyperdense foods screw with our expectations from food. They're also digested too fast, exacerbating glycaemic swings, even illiciting a Pavlovian response. Your "filler" ignores the cause of today's problems. The problems above are caused by a 70 year postwar food race. Capitalism. The way out isn't more of that, we need to recalibrate. Everyday food _should_ be boring, so that treats remain special. Reclaim a taste for the boiled veg our great grandparents had. Get away from this boomer-fuelled sugar fetish.

by uses 5y ago

meiraleal 5y ago

the "fillings" and empty calories are what we call "salad". And the excess of processing by the digestive system also comes with a cost.

oliwarner 5y ago

> processing itself has no relevance to health My understanding is at odds with yours. Problems extend well beyond calorie density. "Processing" covers a lot of things but is often performed for shelf-life reasons. Preservatives are introduced. Ingredients are cooked at very high temperatures to eliminate ambient storage issues. Processing also allows recipes to be precisely tweaked by committee, adding salt, artificial flavourings, and [often controversial] sweeteners. Colourants are dictated by marketing too. Aside from probable direct chemical issues, these flavour- and sodium- hyperdense foods screw with our expectations from food. They're also digested too fast, exacerbating glycaemic swings, even illiciting a Pavlovian response. Your "filler" ignores the cause of today's problems. The problems above are caused by a 70 year postwar food race. Capitalism. The way out isn't more of that, we need to recalibrate. Everyday food _should_ be boring, so that treats remain special. Reclaim a taste for the boiled veg our great grandparents had. Get away from this boomer-fuelled sugar fetish.