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Health Risk of Processed Foods
This recent NPR article spells out how processed foods add to weight gain in humans, and I think I’ve seen the same thing with my horses when fed processed feed and treats vs only minimally processed (SBM, bailed hay and alfalfa cubes) plus unprocessed pasture. We are trying to cut out as much processing as I can for both horses and humans around here.
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/05/25/1178163270/ultra-processed-foods-health-risk-weight-gain -
2 Replies
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Nice find @Kathy – I believe that inflammation is causing the majority of problems in the gut, from the lips to the anus. It disrupts the integrity of the gut lining and also upsets the delicate microbiome. I further believe that ingredients that don’t normally belong in a “natural” diet cause this inflammation.
In this “human world,” a balance between a wholesome and natural diet and the reality of life is needed. In horses, the fence is unnatural, causing a reduction in the variety of foods eaten by the horse. The subsequent reduction in high-quality protein intake needs supplementation. In humans, the loss of time to hunt and grow crops at our house requires that food be placed conveniently in stores. This creates a problem in that mass-produced foods need to last longer. In fact, as a part of our national security, 3 years of processed food is stored in caves large enough to drive semi-trucks around and are located in Kansas (look it up). Regarding processing food, remember that hay is a processed food made to store last summer’s grass for use in winter.
So here’s my plan. I’m quitting my vet practice and this website. I’m going outside to till my plot of land, and after that, I’ll be in the woods hunting. I’ll also remove my horse fence freeing the horses to migrate north for the summer.
If only we lived in a perfect world. In the meantime, I’ll go to McDonalds for lunch now.
Just kidding! Thanks again, Kathy, for this article. To me, it’s simple. We have too much food and too much time to eat it. Adding to this are processed foods engineered to taste good, enticing us to return for more. With this thought, try watching the TV show “The History Of Food” on the History Channel. It’s fascinating how Kellogg and Post came to become the food giants they are. Maybe my next podcast???
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Thanks for the viewing tip, I haven’t seen “The History of Food” and will look for it.
I’ve been in those amazing limestone steady-climate caves in Kansas City. They are pretty amazing and warehouse almost everything you can imagine. The downside to working there (and there are tons of offices) is the lack of any sunlight.
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