Comments on: Modern Diet Myth No. 9: Processed foods are bad for your health

By: Jenny

Jenny — Tue, 16 Jun 2015 11:17:18 +0000

Lol!!!! Funniest thing I’ve read in a long time!

By: Ricky Moore

Ricky Moore — Sun, 07 Jun 2015 23:07:23 +0000

Everything is ‘natural’. Nature is the totality of the Universe. The distinction between ‘nature’ and ‘man’ is a religious meme, not at all meaningful or useful to science.

By: Ricky Moore

Ricky Moore — Sun, 07 Jun 2015 23:06:02 +0000

I am indifferent to the ‘health’ fanaticism that grips our Crypto-Protestant culture, but I vastly prefer the taste and consistency of processed foods. The texture, flavor, smell and availability are almost always the same, which means if I get one can of Ravioli I like the next one isn’t going to taste like cardboard or have some disgusting garbage like broccoli (I don’t eat vegetables that aren’t ground into sauce).
Basically, the fear or processed foods is a combination of media fear-mongering pseudo-science and the fact that a lot of people are Luddite cowards.

By: Bill Shrapnel

Bill Shrapnel — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 21:09:50 +0000

Yes Mary, I guess I am a sucker for punishment. It’s my interest in facts, not myths.
When it comes to margarine I see a simple food – essentially an emulsion of vegetable oil and water. The last time I heated some margarine in a pan it didn’t turn to plastic. No, there was just vegetable oil once the water boiled off. Nothing to see here folks.
Regards, Bill

By: Bill Shrapnel

Bill Shrapnel — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 21:05:41 +0000

Hello Jenny. Yet again, you fail to make the distinction between individual health and population health. Individuals with multiple allergies and intolerances need to take specific steps when making food choices, and are aided by the labelling requirements of processed foods. But the vast majority of the population bases their food choices on other criteria. Regards, Bill

By: Thekla

Thekla — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 20:15:00 +0000

I really enjoy your balanced sensible articles. Thanks for this one !

By: Jenny

Jenny — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 10:16:29 +0000

There are many more than 3 concerns with ‘processed’ food!! Personally I avoid food in packets with lots of ingredients in it (aka processed food) because I have allergies and intolerances which include a particular preservative, yeast , soy and about 20 other things. I have very successfully minimised my reactions by doing this. I would heartily recommend this approach as it has greatly enhanced my health.

I am perplexed that you are making this argument Bill as it would seem to me that seeking food in its natural form, avoiding additives and cooking fresh food from scratch (in other words avoiding ‘processed’ food) are things that most nutritionists recommend.

By: Mary

Mary — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 02:19:58 +0000

Bill, you are a sucker for punishment. I am wondering how long it will take before the “margarine is one step away from plastic” comments appear on this page again. Perhaps they can tell us what that step is.
I am intrigued by this irrational fear of processing food. Surely making food more palatable & easy to digest is a good thing. Raw potato or pumpkin immediately spring to mind as food that needs processing. I think the inference is if a person eats processed food it means they only eat fast food of some description, which is rather illogical. Thanks again for your thought provoking articles.