Review: Ultra-Processed People by Chris Van Tulleken

 

Publication Date: April 2023

Publisher: Penguin Books

Source: Borrowed from library (eAudiobook) (Goodreads)

Blurb: 

It's not you, it's the food.

We have entered a new 'age of eating' where most of our calories come from an entirely novel set of substances called Ultra-Processed Food, food which is industrially processed and designed and marketed to be addictive. But do we really know what it's doing to our bodies?

Join Chris in his travels through the world of food science and a UPF diet to discover what's really going on. Find out why exercise and willpower can't save us, and what UPF is really doing to our bodies, our health, our weight, and the planet (hint: nothing good).

For too long we've been told we just need to make different choices, when really we're living in a food environment that makes it nigh-on impossible. So this is a book about our rights. The right to know what we eat and what it does to our bodies and the right to good, affordable food.

This is a book I have seen so many people buying, borrowing and raving about online. As someone who is very health conscious when it comes to food, although I do believe in non-restrictive diets and treating yourself when needed without guilt, I was very looking forward to reading this book. 

Dr. Chris is someone I am familiar with already as I remember seeing his Operation Ouch tv show on CBBC as a child / teen. I also recall a documentary, possibly featuring his brother Xand, where he ate only UPF (Ultra-Processed Foods) for an extended period and measured the effects on his body and health. Funnily enough, I can't access the documentary anywhere online - though it was produced for the BBC and can only find a short clip of the ending on Youtube.. 

I listened to this as an Audiobook borrowed from my local library and I highly recommend reading the book in this way. Dr Chris narrates the book and his voice really brings to light the shocking findings and eye opening truth behind UPF. I don't believe that any product should have 30+ ingredients in the listings and if you don't even know what some of them are for, maybe reconsider purchasing. 

I think Dr Chris did a fantastic job in not scare-mongering the reader. Dr Chris discusses how not all foods that are classed as ultra processed are "bad" for you - such as cheese, pasta, etc., Just because these items started off in another form and were changed to another (hence them receiving the UPF badge) does not mean they are unhealthy to consume. Dr Chris advocates for an educational, informed decision for consumers to allow them to make better choices for themselves.  

Although some of the stories in the book - especially the margarine crude oil and artificial sweetener stories have put me off.