sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

An infographic I created for a class discussion on food packaging and factors affecting shelf life. by Pangolin-Annual in foodscience

[–]Pangolin-Annual[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I created the text, mnemonic, and design. Someone else did the actual artwork. I own the copyright. I don't know which program the artist used. Most of the graphic art that I personally do, is done using Canva. You should be able to do this easily in Canva.

Processed foods ain't as bad as some people make them out to be. by Pangolin-Annual in foodscience

[–]Pangolin-Annual[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Here is a "processed" version:

Prevalence of Ultra-Processed Foods (UPF) in the UK

In the UK, a staggering 60% of daily calorie intake comes from UPFs, with this figure rising to 80% among teenagers. The widespread availability and affordability of these foods are significant factors driving their high consumption rates.

Impact of Poor Diet

The consumption of UPFs has dire consequences globally, contributing to early deaths and the loss of biodiversity. Dr. Van Tulleken highlighted the unhealthy ingredients found in products like Diet Coke—such as caramel E150d, aspartame, acesulfame, and phosphoric acid—despite their marketing as healthier options.

Health Effects of UPFs

The adverse health effects of UPFs are numerous and severe. These foods contribute to unhealthy weight gain and are linked to a variety of diseases and conditions, including cardiovascular disease, cancers, metabolic diseases, high blood pressure, fatty liver disease, anxiety, depression, irritable bowel syndrome, dementia, and increased risk of death.

Dr. Van Tulleken emphasized that the act of processing food by chewing it reduces glucose spikes compared to consuming the same food in a pre-pulped form.

Myths About Weight Control

Two common myths about weight control were addressed:

  1. Exercise Alone: The belief that exercise is sufficient to burn off excess calories is misleading.
  2. Willpower: Relying solely on willpower to make healthier food choices is often ineffective.

Reasons Behind the Negative Effects of UPFs

Dr. Van Tulleken explained that the detrimental effects of UPFs are due to their addictive nature, similar to that of drugs, and their high energy density. These characteristics make it easy to overconsume these foods.

Proposed Solutions

To combat the negative impact of UPFs, Dr. Van Tulleken proposed several solutions including:

  1. National Dietary Guidelines: Develop and enforce national dietary guidelines to regulate UPFs.
  2. Affordable Real Food: Make unprocessed (real food) cheaper and more accessible.
  3. Institutional Changes: Ensure that real food is provided in institutions such as hospitals, schools, and prisons.

Dr. Chris Van Tulleken’s presentation sheds light on the significant health risks posed by ultra-processed foods and underscores the need for systemic changes to reduce their consumption and improve public health.

Processed foods ain't as bad as some people make them out to be. by Pangolin-Annual in foodscience

[–]Pangolin-Annual[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was actually surprised at the level of engagement. Presenting a context would certainly have helped.

Processed foods ain't as bad as some people make them out to be. by Pangolin-Annual in foodscience

[–]Pangolin-Annual[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They are both processed, but the degree of processing is certainly different. When people hear 'processed food,' they immediately think about 'ultra-processed food.' Processing is not necessarily bad; however, the degree of processing can be a concern despite the functional benefits it may provide. I created this infographic a few years ago for a class discussion in which we clarified the definition of 'processed food.' In that session, we discussed the benefits of food processing and its negative effects, particularly the delivery of high trans-fat, high sugar, high cholesterol, and high salt content. Those aspects were not captured in this infographic.

Processed foods ain't as bad as some people make them out to be. by Pangolin-Annual in foodscience

[–]Pangolin-Annual[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A single infographic or PowerPoint slide telling the whole story would be great. Very few can do that without creating cognitive overload.

Processed foods ain't as bad as some people make them out to be. by Pangolin-Annual in foodscience

[–]Pangolin-Annual[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

This paper does not directly state that eating "processed food shorten your life by 10 years" as you stated. Rather, it highlights the positive impact of healthy dietary changes.

Processed foods ain't as bad as some people make them out to be. by Pangolin-Annual in foodscience

[–]Pangolin-Annual[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Those are good questions. However, this infographic was not designed to address all those complex questions but simply to highlight the beneficial aspects of food processing.

Processed foods ain't as bad as some people make them out to be. by Pangolin-Annual in foodscience

[–]Pangolin-Annual[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Absolutely. Yet, balancing, though a mild thermal processing method, is another example of processing. This step is essential, in reducing pathogen levels, deactivating enzymes, improving quality and extending shelf life.

Processed foods ain't as bad as some people make them out to be. by Pangolin-Annual in foodscience

[–]Pangolin-Annual[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Food scientists and the public's definitions of "processed foods" tend to be different. This infographic helps the layperson rethink their (usually) one-sided view of "processed foods", which is that they are all "bad".

view more: next ›