Comment on How Bad Are Ultraprocessed Foods, Really?
xep@fedia.io 4 months ago
I've tried to eliminate ultraprocessed food from my diet and now I try my best to eat as much fiber as possible. I lost about 15 kilograms between doing this and reducing my sugar/alcohol intake. It was very difficult initially since I always felt hungry but I don't even think about it now, after about a year. I afeel a lot better too. This is just one data point, so I can't say it'll definitely work for everyone, but it's worth a try.
Delphia@lemmy.world 4 months ago
Thats confirmation bias.
The fact is that cutting out carbs results in weight loss because you cut calories by cutting carbs, cutting out processed foods will do largely the same. Going vegetarian often results in weight loss, “Intermittent fasting” doesnt have any special effect on the body, provided you dont eat like a pig in your feeding window its just the fact you’re eating during less time in the day.
Not disputing you got great results or that cutting out processed food cant have other benefits, but I work out alot and eat a lot of “ultra processed” protein powder/protein bars and premade meals and I’ve also seen amazing results.
Nollij@sopuli.xyz 4 months ago
There’s an extra factor in there, at least for some people. Carbs, particularly processed carbs, create an insulin response. That insulin response makes you hungry. Ever wondered about the cliche about eating Chinese food and being hungry an hour later? It’s from the rice, with its high glycemic index. It doesn’t affect everyone, but it does affect a lot of people.
No surprise, you eat less when you’re less hungry (or hungry less of the time). It’s also where intermittent fasting comes in, although that’s a lot tougher to demonstrate.
Delphia@lemmy.world 4 months ago
You’re right. I was talking more about the weight loss, I kind of wrote that post terribly. Everything that Ive read shows that while insulin response and fasting may have some physiological benefits (which will vary wildly from person to person) in addition to the low GI foods making it easier to stay on a diet because you feel full longer and more energetic all day the benefits of simply not eating too much calories is universal.
You can absolutely have a diet based on high GI, calorie dense food and still lose weight. But its going to suck.
xep@fedia.io 4 months ago
I'm not attributing my weight loss to not eating ultraprocessed food, but I'm describing what I did. No longer eating ultraprocessed food was part of it. So, it's an anecdote about what's worked for me, and I'm not sure if there's any confirmation bias in that, but I also think you are welcome to interpret what I said in any way you wish.
Delphia@lemmy.world 4 months ago
Yeah my post was quite poorly written.
You lost weight and feel better by cutting out processed foods a great many of which are very calorie dense and heavy on carbs was what I meant. Which is not to say carbs are bad, I know people who went vegan and lost a ton of weight and felt great despite eating more carbs, People who went Keto and ate tons of fats and lost weight and felt great and people like myself who leaned into macros (and I eat a lot of certain processed foods) all the people had in common was that they took an interest into their diet and what and how much of it they were putting into their bodies.
I didnt mean to make it sound like I’m shitting on what worked for you because thats the important thing, you found a method that worked for you and stuck to it.