In this episode, Tamara Fidler explores the question of how bad eating processed food really is, especially considering that many of us grew up on processed foods in the 80s and 90s. She defines processed and ultra-processed foods and discusses the cumulative effects of eating processed foods over time. She compares the quality and quantity of processed foods from the 80s to today and highlights the changes in additives, preservatives, and portion sizes. Tamara emphasizes the importance of making conscious choices to prioritize whole, minimally processed foods in our diets.

Takeaways

• Surviving doesn't necessarily mean thriving. The health impacts of processed foods are often subtle and cumulative, taking years or even decades to manifest as chronic conditions.
• Our lifestyles in the 80s helped counterbalance the negative impacts of a processed food heavy diet, but today our lives are more sedentary and processed foods are more prevalent.
• We now have more knowledge about nutrition and understand the importance of whole foods and the negative impact of consuming too much sugar, unhealthy fats, and sodium.
• Processed foods today are different from those in the 80s, with more added preservatives, artificial ingredients, and cheaper, lower quality fats and sugars.
• Making conscious choices to prioritize whole, minimally processed foods in our diets can make a big difference in our overall health.