Category: processed food

Lileks: The Newest Sign of Sophistication — Pop-Tartare

By James Lileks From Star Tribune A new ad for Pop-Tarts has revealed the depths to which our once-proud civilization has fallen. It ran on Reddit. “Split it. Crust first. Straight from the foil. ‘The only’ civilized way to eat Pop-Tarts.” Raw. In other words, Pop-Tartare. Sophisticated? Really? It’s one thing to say that cold…


The Right Way to Cut Carbs and Sugar

One of my patients—who had been struggling with obesity, uncontrolled diabetes, and the cost of her medications—agreed in June 2019 to adopt a more whole-food, plant-based diet. Excited by the challenge, she did a remarkable job. She increased her fresh fruit and vegetable intake; stopped eating candy, cookies, and cakes; and cut down on foods…


Junk Food and the Brain

Emotional, nonrational, even explosive remarks in public discourse have escalated in recent years. This is sometimes attributed to social media. But are there other influences altering communication styles? As researchers in the field of nutrition and mental health, and authors of “The Better Brain,” we recognize that many people in our society experience brain hunger that…


Research Links the Western Diet to Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, is a historically Western occurrence. Although mainly a problem in the United States, as the standard American diet has gone global, IBD has become more common across the globe. All that fast food, fat, and sugar could be promoting the proliferation of IBD. A recent study has found that eating…


Good Things Can Happen When Your Gut Is Happy

There is an ever-expanding pool of research indicating that your gut health can influence how you think, feel, and function. But if you want the mental and emotional benefits of a healthy gut, you have to give your gut what it needs. The magic that fuels your gut’s psychological impact is bugs—tiny little microorganisms that…


60 Percent of Americans Will Be Obese by 2030

In the United States, 42.5 percent of adults 20 and over are obese, while another 31.1 percent are overweight.(1) While these statistics are already alarming, the American Obesity Association suggests that by 2025, 50 percent of Americans may be obese—and this will jump to 60 percent by 2030.(2) What’s behind this ongoing rise in Americans’…


Junk Food Companies Worsen COVID-19 Susceptibility

Underlying health conditions like obesity, heart disease, and diabetes have emerged as key factors in fatalities due to novel coronavirus, COVID-19. In one study, more than 99 percent of COVID-19 fatalities occurred among people who had underlying medical conditions. Among the fatalities, 76.1 percent had high blood pressure, 35.5 percent had diabetes and 33 percent…