Federal officials are currently rejecting a variety of long-standing findings of the science and health communities, leaving folks wondering if they should believe mainstream scientists and physicians, or politicians. One area of important agreement is that almost everyone acknowledges that ultra-processed food simply is not good for us.
It is fairly easy to see if your food is ultra-processed. Just look at the label – if the ingredient list contains chemicals that mean nothing to most people, that’s probably an ultra-processed food. A few examples include many breakfast cereals, packaged cakes and cookies, chips, and breads that seem to last a long time without spoiling. Of course, they are all very tasty, and easy to eat without much preparation. That is what makes them so popular! No wonder the CDC’s most current data shows that 40.3% of adults (20 years old and older) in the United States are obese. That’s about double the rate in Western Europe. But it’s not just the calories, even though CDC reports that on average over half of the calories consumed by adults are from ultra-processed foods. For example, an elevated risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and stroke have all been linked to ultra-processed foods.
During this late summer season, we are fortunate in our area to have such an abundance of local produce. What a wonderful alternative to processed foods! Visiting farmers markets, you’ll find tremendous assortments of fruits and vegetables. Perhaps a fresh peach, plum or apple will fill that void normally satisfied by a cookie or chip. Certainly, it is the easiest season to try to eat healthier, with such a wide assortment of choices available locally. Supporting local farmers obviously helps our local economy, which is yet another virtue that almost everyone supports. Even if getting to a local farmer’s market isn’t convenient, our grocery stores are plentifully stocked with fresh seasonal produce, with many of them having shelves of locally grown products. The cost of produce during this harvest season is the lowest of the year for many items, a welcome change from the rising costs for so many other things.
It seems like a simple thing. Local farmers grow good food, the food comes to local markets, and buying it helps the local economy and our personal health! A lot of wins there. Of course, the pull of processed foods remains great – they are tasty, convenient, and sometimes cheap (although watch prices and notice that things seem to be getting more expensive – or containers are getting smaller!). For those interested in promoting their own health, it is helpful to know that there is little controversy over the problem with processed foods. Few things in today’s politicized environment have such an agreement among sides. And our region gives us delicious and convenient choices. Thank a farmer today.
