When the cardiologist Eric Topol goes to the grocery store these days, his cart stands out from the crowd. He is no longer filled with packaged boxes or products, he says that it is largely just fresh products – A big change compared to what he bought.
“I read a lot of labels, and now I avoid things with labels,” Topol told Business Insider. “When I am in the grocery store and I only buy products, people look at me:” What’s wrong with this guy? “”
Topol said that he eats food less ultra-very than before and approves a Mediterranean style diet. With the kind permission of Eric Topol
Everything happened about a year ago, because it was deeply in the search for his new bestseller book “Super agers: an approach based on evidence of longevity.” It was at this time that he revised his relationship with packaged foods and mass products, repressing ultra-transformed food (UPF).
“I call UFOs,” said Topol. “Many of these things that I did not do were so full of bad things.”
A key reason for ultra-transformed foods is bad: they are anti-fibers
Ultra-treble foods tend to lack fibers, which is naturally abundant in fresh dishes such as vegetables and beans. Beats3 / Getty Images / Istockphoto
Topol stores now use the common nutritional gaming rule to stick to the score perimeterThe area where fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts, bulk grains and frozen vegetables are stored. These are these medium aisles full of ultra processed products that it generally avoids.
As Topol explains in his new book, ultra-grease foods are “the polar opposite” of fiberAn abundant key nutrient in fresh foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, beansAnd the grains, what we know is ideal for our long -term health in all kinds of ways.
For example, Fiber slows down and helps digestion, improves cholesterol, promotes the health of the intestinal microbiome and even helps to stabilize blood sugar. Upfs generally does not do so.
“What is called the” Western regime “, rich in Ultra-treated foods are pro-inflammatory and linked to metabolic dysfunction, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and colon cancer“The Book of Topol says. His diet was not very unhealthy before, but he became a more rigorous buyer following his latest research.
“If it is packaged or in a box or canned, I know it will probably be a problem,” said Topol. “I’m going to check it. Sometimes you can be surprised.”
Not all packaged foods are created equal
Frozen vegetables and canned beans are not UPF. istock
Ultra-transformed researchers say Not all upf are just as unhealthy. Studies show that whole grain Breakfast cereals and ultra-tail yogurt are not as bad for you as hot dogs, packaged desserts, or sugary drinks like soda and juice. This second food group is more systematically linked to poor long -term health results, such as higher rates of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
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Certain cans and boxes of the grocery store are not even ultra -approved at all. A box of chickpeas or black beans seasoned with salt, frozen vegetables, canned fish – they are simply processed foods. They are not linked to all the same poor health results as the UPFs, but they are excellent shortcuts to help encourage a healthier diet at home.
Topol says that its new shopping routine has transformed its daily diet in an almost without effect. In addition, he no longer has to spend so much time reading labels, looking for the long list of ingredients he tries to avoid like high fructose corn syrup, palm oil, artificial sweeteners, and more.
“I’m eating salad At night, I eat yogurt and some berries In the morning, and not much between the two, “he said.” It’s a fairly healthy diet, I think. “”
