Dr Hilary Jones issues warning to Brits over popular diet staples
Dr Hilary Jones has sounded the alarm on eating ultra-processed foods, urging the public to cut back on these products for the sake of their future health.
The regular TV doctor, featured on programmes such as Good Morning Britain and Lorraine, is advocating for Brits to minimise their intake of UPFs right away to benefit long-term wellness.
Research by Gousto has found that a staggering 60 percent of British people are oblivious to the detrimental lasting effects these foods can have. By 2055, the overindulgence in UPFs combined with a deficit in fresh, nutritious food could lead to an escalation of type 2 diabetes, fatty liver and intra-abdominal fat, along with increased levels of anxiety and depression.
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"There's a lot of momentum building now after several decades of us relying more on ultra processed foods, and I think it's becoming clearer and clearer with every bit of evidence that's published," Dr Hilary shared with OK!
"We now know that the average person is consuming 60% of their calories from ultra-processed foods. I think people are thinking, wow, that's far too much, and, of course, it coincides with obesity rates and all the things that come with obesity, like heart disease and diabetes."
Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) might be alluring due to their convenience and taste, but it's crucial we understand the potential long-term effects on our health.
"One of the most comprehensive meta-analyses that has been published recently was in the British Medical Journal in February. It looked at studies that included over 10 million people when you put it all together, and it described 32 adverse health conditions, which included an increase in all causes of mortality - so increased death rates from everything," Dr Hilary disclosed.
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"But also increased risk of breast cancer, colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, adverse sleep, adverse anxiety, asthma, hypertension, Crohn's disease, unspecific colitis, metabolic syndrome and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and high blood sugars. We need to take stock of what we're consuming."
Therefore, despite the temptation to indulge in snacks loaded with saturated fats and sugars, choosing healthier, convenient alternatives is easier than you might think.
"Instead of reaching for a biscuit, cake or a chocolate bar for elevenses, why not go for something healthy like an apple, celery sticks or carrot sticks? Why not swap out the unhealthy things for something much healthier, which fills you up and is high in fiber, which releases energy slowly but healthily," he suggested.
"We don't eat enough fiber in our western diet. We should be taking on board about 30g a day. The average is about 20, so a third less than it should be. It's about understanding what's in the food and making healthy choices."
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