Gransnet forums

Health

UHP foods and cholesterol

(8 Posts)
Maggierose Thu 09-May-24 13:00:43

Good advice Happygirl79 - having just finished the book I’m inclined to dump the drinks and spread in the bin. They’re full of additives.

Happygirl79 Wed 08-May-24 17:26:53

Ultra processed people is a fabulous and very informative book.
Unfortunately our GPs must advise what the NHS advise which is at least 20 years out if date.
Therefore they will advise low fat foods, sliced ham etc ..all ultra processed foods stuffed with additives you really don't want for good health.
I am not a doctor but I do take my health seriously and avoid any "foods" which profess low fat, high protein, no added sugar etc. Look at the back of the packet and generally you will find a long list of additives and chemicals.
Just be sensible. Don't over eat. When you do try to eat the rainbow to get good nutrition. Reduce the amount of cheese and butter but don't replace them with ultra processed replacement products . Good luck .

Maggierose Wed 08-May-24 13:44:07

Where can I buy the natural stuff, Sago?

M0nica Wed 08-May-24 13:17:10

GP's, in general have no training at all in dietetics and just utter standard mantras, with out any idea about whether they work or not. I sometimes think they just parrot whatever they have seen on the front page of a popular newspapers.

Sago Wed 08-May-24 13:03:15

You can buy a natural sterol supplement instead.

Maggierose Wed 08-May-24 12:50:18

Thanks August Day, that is helpful. I think I might finish up the drinks and spread I’ve bought but not get any more.

AugustDay Wed 08-May-24 12:06:19

Plant sterols from products like Benecol do work to reduce your cholesterol by reducing cholesterol absorption but only if you consume a lot of them. So if your diet contains a lot of butter which you switch out for benecol spread it’s likely to help. If not, it won’t do much.

Reducing cholesterol through diet is all about the ratio of fats that you eat. You want less saturated fat and more unsaturated fats. www.bda.uk.com/resource/cholesterol.html

Consuming less ultra-processed foods is a way of improving your diet quality overall, but again, it’s only going to be a big difference if you already consume a lot of those foods.

Maggierose Wed 08-May-24 11:51:28

GP told me my cholesterol was a bit high and to try to reduce it with diet. She said the best way was to reduce saturated fat, butter, cheese etc. I bought Benecol drinks and spread and been using daily despite not liking them. Now, just started reading Ultra-Processed People by Chris van Tulleken and checking the Benecol labels find they are stuffed full of unhealthy additives. Don’t know whether to continue with them. Any advice?