Here’s Why You’re Addicted to Ultra-Processed Food | Chris van Tulleken

Here’s Why You’re Addicted to Ultra-Processed Food | Chris van Tulleken | TEDxNewcastle

Рет қаралды 71,969

7 ай бұрын

NOTE FROM TED: While some may find this helpful as a complementary approach, please do not look to this talk for health advice. This talk represents the speaker's personal views and understanding of ultra processed food and addictive behaviors, which has been part of an ongoing debate among experts working in the field. We've flagged this talk because it falls outside the content guidelines TED gives TEDx organizers. TEDx events are independently organized by volunteers. The guidelines we give TEDx organizers are described in more detail here: storage.ted.com/tedx/manuals/t...
Ultra-Processed Food (UPF) has a long, formal scientific definition, but it can be boiled down to this: if it’s wrapped in plastic and has at least one ingredient that you wouldn’t find in your kitchen, it’s almost certainly a UPF.
UPFs now make up a staggering 60% of the average diet in the UK and USA with each of us ingesting 8kg of food additives per year. UPFs are now the leading cause of early death globally and the number one cause of environmental destruction.
Award-winning broadcaster, practicing NHS doctor and leading academic Chris van Tulleken marshals the latest evidence to reveal what UPFs are really doing to our bodies and the planet. Chris explores the invention of UPF and its impact on our health and weight - from altering metabolism and appetite, to an increased risk of serious health problems like cardiovascular disease and dementia. He shows that almost all our staple foods are ultra-processed - bread, cereal, biscuits, desserts, dairy products and condiments; explains why exercise and willpower cannot prevent obesity and ill health due to UPF; and provides solutions for individuals, policy makers and the food industry.
Chris’ ultimate recommendation is that Big Food needs to be regulated increasingly along the lines of how we have successfully regulated Big Tobacco. Chris van Tulleken has a medical degree from Oxford and a PhD in molecular virology from UCL. He is a practicing infectious diseases doctor in the NHS and an associate professor at University College London, where his research focuses on how corporations affect human health, especially in the context of nutrition.
He works closely with UNICEF and the World Health Organisation on infant nutrition. As one of the UK’s leading science broadcasters, Chris has won two BAFTAs for his long-running CBBC series Operation Ouch, co-presented with his twin brother Xand. Following his BBC One documentary ‘What Are We Feeding Our Kids?’ and the chart-topping podcast ‘A Thorough Examination - Addicted to Food’, Chris has become the UK’s go-to expert on ultra processed foods.
Chris’ 2023 book, Ultra-Processed People, became the no 1 Sunday Times bestseller with recommendations coming from the FT, Daily Mail, Guardian & New York Times among many others. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

Пікірлер: 87

@user-sj7re7ij8z 5 ай бұрын

Have just finished reading his book, I thought I ate a healthy diet, I had no idea a lot of what I consumed was ultra processed. It’s completely changed what I feed my children and family. The work he and others are doing to educate in a way that allows us to realise it’s not our fault is so important to not create a blame culture but just awareness to make informed decisions.

@zaratheexplorer8290 5 ай бұрын

Easy. But things out of a package. Fruits veggies ... And even meat chicken..

@robertwilson214 2 ай бұрын

I hear you. I loved mayo on my salad....then I read what was in mayo.

@mrjonnydz 7 ай бұрын

Love how Chris is talking about this topic. Something I have heard him say which i can relate to is essentially: become disgusted by this food, then its easier to stop. I walk past things in the supermarket now with a disgust, thinking about how these few companies are screwing us all over. Power to you Chris - keep shouting.

@sarahRA86 7 ай бұрын

Yes! It’s how I quit Diet Coke. For years I tried and would never last more than a week. After watching his talks, I started calling it chemical juice and now no longer want it and don’t feel deprived!

@mrjonnydz 7 ай бұрын

@@sarahRA86 Nice going. That's the way. I havnt had a coke for years. On the wall In the waiting room of my dentist, there are bottles of various drinks - from water, flavoured water, kids fruit shoot, lucozade, redbull and coke.... And each one has a plastic bag hanging underneath filled with the sugar content of each. Water being empty obviously. That always refills my disgust levels when I go....

@elmeradams8781 4 ай бұрын

How do you deal with interacting with people? I'll see people eat stuff at work, and I can know they can tell I'm disgusted. If they offer me a doughnut (I know they mean well), but I can't help but react negativity toward the food. I do just say no thanks, but I know they see it in my body language.

@mrjonnydz 4 ай бұрын

@@elmeradams8781 I usually just say no thanks. If they say nothing, then it just passes over, but if they respond with a why or need more information on how I could possibly say no to this fantastic food, Then i will engage and we can debate from there. Some people literally think that diet coke is ok because it says diet on it. People don't generally like you preaching to them about this stuff, but if they want more info on my disgust, then i will join in no problem.

@crimper264 13 күн бұрын

I totally agree

@shahidshabbir8 5 ай бұрын

dr chris van tulleken.. is an actual superhero... a real one! 🛡️

@dopeymark 5 ай бұрын

My brand new primary care doctor that I met with just this past Friday recommended that I read this book.

@callicordova4066 5 ай бұрын

A supermarket I used to go to had the store bakery right by the processed meat section (lunch meat, bacon, sausage, frozen chicken tenders, etc.) I thought of it as "death row." Most of the aisles in grocery stores are "death rows."

@sarahsnowe 18 күн бұрын

Very well put! Thanks for this addition to my critical vocabulary.

@user-lc5ye5sv8y 2 ай бұрын

A recent video I watched used the term "Pre-Digested Food" as in pre chewed and requires no real work for your body to digest it. The word "Slurry" has also caused me to think more about my food. I am a delivery driver on a gig app during my free time and have found that being exposed to other peoples bad eating habits strengthens my resolve and helps me to see I am doing better than most when it comes to being food conscious.

@philipw Ай бұрын

Funny that. working at dominos made me want pizza far far less haha maybe there's something to it

@robbo03 Ай бұрын

I have to remind myself often that I eat a better diet than like 90% of the population just because I avoid UPFs 😅

@sarahsnowe 17 күн бұрын

@@philipw I sometimes wait at a bus-stop outside a Domino's outlet, and the smell makes me gag.

@sarahsnowe 17 күн бұрын

Many people are psychologically addicted to junk food, especially carbs and most especially sweet stuff. It's comfort food, and people turn to it because they're unhappy for all kinds of reasons. I found it easy to eat less and eat better when I retired: no more work stress, more time to shop and cook properly, and much less sense of needing to "give myself a treat" because the rest of my life was difficult.

@Liusila 6 күн бұрын

I feel you. I’m unexpectedly having an easier time with work this year and for the first time recently I’ve stopped to check why I’m still buying myself the sugary and other comfort foods, and honestly it’s become a habit. It was an automatic choice for any comfort and it takes a lot else to be going right to see it for what it is.

@watchingyoutubey 2 ай бұрын

I'm weaning myself because to just suddenly stop eating ultra processed/ unhealthy food after that being your normal is difficult to form a habit. I make small changes. Best off starting with everything you drink. I drink only things i believe have some health benefit to them. Water, lemon water, teas, coffee, milk, beetroot juice, hot choc using caocao powder, for alcohol i have red wine and guinness both have health benefits and they're only a rare treat anyway. All stuff i enjoy and there's health benefits to them all. Then make small changes with food. Trying to make more food from scratch, which i am doing slowly. What i would like to get into is meal prepping that way i could get rid of a lot of the processed rubbish.

@roseb7490 7 ай бұрын

Fantastic talk, he ends with an alternative definition of UPF "industrially produced edible food substances"😮

@janetarrant 7 ай бұрын

Loved talking alongside you Chris and therefore getting to watch you live. You set the bar for something people haven't thought enough about. Keep up the great work!

@GlorifiedTruth 4 ай бұрын

Lucky Charms are magically delicious? More like TRAGICALLY delicious, amirite?

@karenlin-mahar3403 6 ай бұрын

So important and relevant! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 have been following Chris’ and Tim’s (Spector ) work for some time. So critical to improving our knowledge on health, UPF and research in understanding nutrition.

@bobadams7654 7 ай бұрын

Chris on the money - as always. Keep up the great work!

@user-vv2xn1xb2k 7 ай бұрын

Great talk, I really hope we start seeing tighter regulations on what is included in food and how it is marketed, especially here in the US. My dentist recently remarked that the only way to avoid certain issues with my teeth was to avoid processed sugar, but that that's basically impossible these days.

@bobadams7654 7 ай бұрын

Unfortunately artificial sweeteners are often substitude for sugar - thus allowing misleading health claims, and leading to serious health issues. The only positive is they don't cause tooth decay. But that is not a good reason to consume them.

@edwarddjan8319 6 ай бұрын

I guess, in a way, as a lot of food (that is not natural), contains processed sugar.

@compulsiverambler1352 5 ай бұрын

It's only impossible if you're supporting the ultra processed food villains creating this slop. Buy all your own fresh ingredients, organic as much as possible, learn to use herbs and spices, buy bread from bakers that bake it on the premises on the same day you buy it, and "process" everything into a meal in your own kitchen from scratch instead of letting factories concoct it with chemicals that shouldn't be anywhere near the human body. It's amazing, everything tastes better but is easy to stop eating when you're full, win-win.

@edwarddjan8319 5 ай бұрын

@@compulsiverambler1352 I guess.

@DLFfitness1 2 ай бұрын

You nailed it here. I share your book all the time with my clients.

@Wailinix 6 ай бұрын

Best intro yet Chris! Keep up the good fight.

@AudreyCormier 4 ай бұрын

Not long ago, I had a medical treatment that affected my tastebuds for a few weeks. The more highly processed a food item was, the worse the taste, for me. But I could eat fresh fruits and veggies no problem. It's no surprise to me, there are so many chemicals that are in processed foods. We hardly know yet how they impact our health.

@SLAYINGVR Ай бұрын

Oh they know...they really know

@MarcoSilesio 6 ай бұрын

wonderful video. Great thinker

@JadaXie 6 ай бұрын

More people should see this. Upvoted and commented. :)

@koosfockens1707 5 ай бұрын

excellent presentation! I've got the book. Great read!

@edwarddjan8319 6 ай бұрын

It was a nice TED session.

@therese3960 2 ай бұрын

Wow.. Chris, your face has changed tremendously since your earlier videos... proof right there! Looking sharp.

@slomotrainwreck 6 ай бұрын

Are you trying to tell me that the whole box of cereal is NOT a single serving!

@emmacassidy8482 5 ай бұрын

Half a box is a serving!

@aliceosborne3866 5 ай бұрын

Brilliant…

@TheZZZAAA333 Ай бұрын

Great information- as a teacher I want to empower my students and parents to be educated consumers. Would you be open to developing curriculum?

@keztukariri 4 ай бұрын

"The Coolade Man" hahaha brilliant 😂

@DrunkenDemon 2 ай бұрын

Ive wittled it down to the baked goods section and its brutal to break that habit. I knowingly do it, and it leads to additional purchases . I thought regular chocolate was hard, but noooo its the refined flour. But, in time i will win. Simple as that.

@frglaf4187 2 ай бұрын

I hadn’t considered before that in the UK “Corn Pops” makes no sense because “corn” is a generic term for grain. I guess “Maize Pops” doesn’t have the same cachet.

@ParadoxalDream 7 ай бұрын

Sugar IS addictive, claiming the contrary is antiscience.

@bhaldurgumbo1256 3 ай бұрын

He's also trying to bring light to the fact that all the other additives are more addictive than sugar by itself alone

@personalsigh 2 ай бұрын

No it's not

@debbiemoore2747 7 ай бұрын

Reading the book now. I have always had an interest in mood and food, as i was determined to help my depression and anxiety without big pharma help. Its took a long time but my mood is way improved. If i eat a pizza i notice the difference and the last time i ate a McDonalds the bread was way too sweet. I cannot get out of my head that Xantham gum is noted to be like slime in a dishwasher as in the book 🤢 horrified.

@loot6 4 ай бұрын

Isn't xantham gum the one he said is the slime that insects produce to stick to walls? I told that to my gf and she avoids anything with that in like the plague now.

@nickseccombe1357 4 ай бұрын

Is Nestle watching this? Time to change...

@ami.o3574 Ай бұрын

Operation ouch!

@user-nb3qd6wx2q Ай бұрын

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

@danielgolarz674 5 ай бұрын

Ted I'm the author of EIGHT DAYS IN AN INNER CITY SCHOOL please talk about the out of control OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING for k-12 teachers that's why we have teacher shortages

@user-oj9tb9gp1n Ай бұрын

All sweet food is addictive. As are all carbs.

@robbo03 Ай бұрын

I definitely wouldn't say that all carbs are addictive. I eat fruit and veggies but am not addicted to them.

@user-oj9tb9gp1n Ай бұрын

@@robbo03 Stop eating them for two weeks and if you have no problem then you are not addicted.

@robbo03 Ай бұрын

@@user-oj9tb9gp1n been there, done that no problem. Bit of a logical fallacy to suggest that to be honest.

@user-oj9tb9gp1n Ай бұрын

@@robbo03 Good luck with your future health problems.

@rcisneros310 4 ай бұрын

It's the food AND it's you.

@hq3607 6 ай бұрын

Good talk! He doesn't really address the issue of food insecurity and how one of the reasons people turn to these products is not only because they are everywhere, but also because in a lot of cases these are the only things people can afford to eat.

@compulsiverambler1352 5 ай бұрын

Binge-eaters who are also poor, can become food-insecure because they binge on so much of what they buy, that they find they have much less food left some days than other days, and worry about it because they think they will starve if they don't eat for a few days (fasting is actually good for you for several days even if you are a healthy weight, let alone if you are overweight, but it feels like torment if your system is dysregulated by the NOVA 3 and 4 products the video is about). If they didn't binge, they wouldn't be food insecure, but they only binge because these substances are DESIGNED to make people do that, and binge eaters are the unlucky ones especially genetically vulnerable to the metabolic and other abnormalities that ultra-processed "food" causes, which makes them experience the cravings and emotional disturbances much more. The "food" causes them to be poorer because they compulsively eat and spend an obscene amount of money on food, compared to what is actually needed. They also have a warped sense of how much food they need, because the toxic fake food makes them feel ravenous after just half a day without calories, and because they have been raised in families where this tragedy has gone on for generations and they don't know any different, they don't know how little food you can buy and feel full on if it is real food. This is also true of most poor people who don't technically binge but consistently eat too much, i.e. most obese people. Overeating, due to this criminal mass poisoning of society with addictive substances we were not informed about, and were lied to about, causes poverty in this way, like other addictions do, but of course it's not the only cause.

@pennyk1943 5 ай бұрын

TOTALLY DISAGREE! I will give you my family’s example. My parents were immigrants to a Western country, they got paid very little so we grew up poor. There was no EBT card to buy groceries. They always took the food they could get and cook it at home and made it delicious and enough to feed all of us. Dad passed away at 86 years old and had never tasted McDonalds or any other fast food. They grew up during the war where they would take a malnourished chicken and feed twenty one mouths. It’s all how we choose to live. Everything was made at home by mom & dad. Of course, us kids got an education and had money etc and started eating out etc. now we have to cut this habit of eating addictive junk and take our parents example. We have to make conscious choices and show our kids before it’s too late ❤️

@deanmbrunk1 2 ай бұрын

Another reason for eating prepackaged or processed foods is the lack of time. The time to shop for whole foods. The time to make the meal from scratch.

@md.rakibul2609 Ай бұрын

So, tell me why the f*** am I addicted to Ultra-Processed Food?

@robpage9025 6 ай бұрын

Disadvantaged people in the U.K. are not forced to eat UPF. Many vegetarians in the developing world are poor and eat health non UPF food. The issue is an inability or wiil to cook wholesome food because they are too busy on socal media or other less important issues and they like UPF more than lentils!

@nancym687 5 ай бұрын

Look up urban food deserts. It isn’t always lack of will or skill. It is many times lack of availability.

@loot6 4 ай бұрын

It's not just that it's all the advertisements everywhere and particularly how they are marketed to kids. Very hard to avoid. You can barely walk anywhere without either seeing UPF or adverts for it. It's also all ready to eat directly without any effort and whether people can afford it or not, the fact is it's cheaper.

@capablanc 3 ай бұрын

Blaming social media, typical boomer mentality. Many poverty stricken parents are some of the hardest workers you'll ever meet. They work LONG gruelling hours doing tough, soul crushing jobs and then when they get home you expect them to stand in the kitchen for hours preparing and cooking fresh food for a big family, and then blame social media. This isn't the 1950s where women stay home all day doing house chores and cooking for everyone, often both parents rarely get a moment to themselves nowadays. You're a joke and clearly overly privileged. I'd wager you're over 50 and completely out of touch.

@personalsigh 2 ай бұрын

This is the worst take I've ever read on the internet.

@loot6 2 ай бұрын

@@personalsigh Yeah it pretty much is.

@WestOfEarth Ай бұрын

I may or may not be addicted to UPFs...but I don't care. When you're poor, what's the point of extending a miserable life? When you're poor, you have few options for nice things...no vacations, no movies, no dining out (except maybe fast food) at healthy restaurants, few opportunities for entertainment, living in run down apartments in run down neighborhoods. Yeah, I'm gonna eat UPFs. The posh people can live longer and good for them as they live a life worth extending.

@emward6858 Ай бұрын

You need to change your outlook on life. People can be poor/ unhappy and still eat better.

@WestOfEarth Ай бұрын

@@emward6858 why?

@user-oj9tb9gp1n 5 ай бұрын

Sugar is not addictive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ARE YOU SERIOUS

@loot6 4 ай бұрын

Which type of sugar are you addicted to - brown or white? And which brand of sugar?

@user-br6px6ok9x 2 ай бұрын

As he mentioned about the sugar in a bowl, it's not addictive as it doesn't look or taste good. If you stick it into the food we like then we can shovel it down our mouths and bang...addiction

@user-oj9tb9gp1n 2 ай бұрын

@@user-br6px6ok9x its called sarcasm as in . are you seriously saying that sugar is not addictive.

@user-oj9tb9gp1n Ай бұрын

@@loot6 all sugar is addictive.

@loot6 Ай бұрын

@@user-oj9tb9gp1n Post some reports about people eating sugar from a bowl all day every day. Otherwise I might as well say all vegetables are addictive. Equally valid.

@MuhammadAli-hr1bj 2 ай бұрын

The same rationale can be applied to the military industrial complex and how the israeli state controls british institutions, from piliticians, police forces, survailence tech, BT etc..