Nutrition - Introduction

Blog #1 - Introduction  

What is Ultra-processed Food?

Ultra-processed foods are made from substances found in food, such as fats and starches, and then other ingredients are added - such as artificial flavours and colours, added sugar, stabliziers, preservatives and more (Drummond, 2022). These foods go through multiple processes (extrusion, molding, milling, etc.), contain many added ingredients and are highly manipulated (Heart & Stroke). These foods include soft-drinks, ice-cream, chocolates, sausages, etc.

A recent research commissioned by Heart & Stroke found that Canadians consume almost 50% of their daily calories from ultra-processed food.  It showed that we are eating a significant amount of processed food every day. According to Heart & Stroke, Ace (2018) and McManus (2020), there are plenty of researches indicated that those consumed a large amount of these ultra processed food will be overweight or obese and have a higher risk of many diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, dementia and some types of cancer.

Instead of eating more ultra-processed food, people should consume healthier whole food and less processed food, which maintain the natural nutrients in their original forms.

Will nutrition, currently or in the future, play a more important role in the culinary industry?

I support this standpoint. In view of more advanced food technology, the food company can manufacture more processed and ultra-processed foods to the society. From marketing point of view, it provides a wider choices of products for the people to choose. However, these food will also cause overweight, obesity and other types of diseases. Nutrition science provides a better understanding of what people should eat and how they should eat in order to get healthy. Besides eating delicious food, people will also concern more about their health. Culinary industry will play an ever more important role in the overall chain. Other than maintaining the freshness, colours and tastes of the ingredients, the chefs should also consider the sources, nutrition, and healthiness of the food - a totally different perspective in the past. The industry will need to calculate the calories and cook the healthy food for the customers. 

Creditibility of Nutrition Website

We can take a look at the website from Heart & Stroke. It was written by Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada that was a credible organization. In addition, this blog is also quoted by other credible institution, University of Waterloo, as quoted in another blog (Ace, 2018). In contrast, another article written by a fittness website that may not credible to nutrition. There was no information about the writer nor his or her qualification so there is no way to trace whether the writer is a nutrition professional. Further, the article did not quote any reference in the website so we do not know whether his or her words are trustworthy.

Reference

Ace, S. (2018, March 16). Myth: Processed foods aren't healthy and should be avoided at all costs. Healthy Workplace, University of Waterloo. https://uwaterloo.ca/healthy-workplace/blog/post/myth-processed-foods-arent-healthy-and-should-be-avoided-all

Drummond, K.E. (2022). Nutrition for foodservice and culinary professionals. Chapter 1, page 19.

Heart & Stroke. (n.d.). What is ultra-processed food and how can you eat less of it? https://www.heartandstroke.ca/articles/what-is-ultra-processed-food

MasterClass (2021, July 15). A Guide to Processed Food: What Is Processed Food? https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-processed-food?campaignid=17057064710&adgroupid=138540388680&adid=594729885744&utm_term=&utm_campaign=%5BMC%5C+%7C+Search+%7C+NonBrand+%7C+Category_DSA+%7C+ROW+%7C+EN+%7C+tCPA+%7C+EG%7CPP+%7C+BRD+%7C+ROW&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=594729885744&hsa_acc=9801000675&hsa_cam=17057064710&hsa_grp=138540388680&hsa_ad=594729885744&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=dsa-1456167871416&hsa_kw=&hsa_mt=&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gclid=Cj0KCQiA6rCgBhDVARIsAK1kGPJ4NuzdAnXV0lnVmXrnzG1aO1TJ1rWq7ypL1af5WPUmqE9IdBRzaPAaAr7kEALw_wcB

McManus, K.D. (2020, January 9). What are ultra-processed foods and are they bad for our health? Harvard Health Blog. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/what-are-ultra-processed-foods-and-are-they-bad-for-our-health-2020010918605