The Truth About Food

RosiesMaw2

^It keeps people in jobs, it makes loadsa money for people (the twin docs, Michael Moseley, etc) but there really is little new stuff^

I really think some people have ritither completely missed the point or want to remain in blissful.ignofance.
NOTHING in these lectures was aimed at making "loadsamoney" for anybody.
Understanding the science - both the biology and chemistry behind our digestive systems and our relationship with food was both fascinating and useful.

Well said. Not only that, but the Christmas Lectures are aimed at 11-17 year olds, not people who have spent years finding out about food and nutrition.

PS. I was fascinated by the demonstration of cooked tendon.

Alcohol is undoubtedly a risk for many cancers notably breast, mouth and throat, colon, rectum and liver. A new beverage with a similar risk profile and social toll would definitely carry a warning, or may possibly be banned. Cigarettes cause cancer and display a warning, and smoking has declined markedly. A warning on the bottle may not stop established drinkers, but may deter some from starting in the first place.

The problem is that alcohol is so well established in our social fabric and much social life revolves around it that it is anti social to be a non drinker.

Plus tax on alcohol raises an awful lot of revenue for the Treasury I dare say.

Chris van Tullikan is an engaging lecturer, the programmes are informative and the audience clearly enjoyed them. Well worth watching by anyone wanting to know more about the subject.

growstuff

CariadAgain

Sounds like they've been re-running old ground (ie well-covered before) to me.

What I think would be useful would be a programme on how to spot "food fakes" - ie most honey sold in Britain, much olive oil, etc. I feel like I've had to learn bit by bit what the signs are as to what constitutes "food as described on the label v. a fake" and it's a bit painstaking.

BTW - does anyone know if that thing about a lot of Chinese white rice isn't actually rice - ie it's a fake made of plastic - is true? I've done enough checking round the Net that I've just thrown out the last of a packet of noodles from China just-in-case....and I'm certainly suspicious that it may well be true....

The hoax about Chinese rice being made of plastic is about as true as the stories about GM being used to grow strawberries crossed with fish to produce fruit which would withstand cold. Cariad it's absolute nonsense!

If the rice was made of plastic it wouldn't soften and swell when cooked.
And the tiny pellets would go straight through your gut (one would hope).

I must say that's a new one in me! It would probably be more expensive to make than producing rice anyway!

I haven't seen these programmes but will look out for them on iPlayer.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Plus tax on alcohol raises an awful lot of revenue for the Treasury I dare say.

Alcohol consumption has increased a lot in recents years amongst the middle aged ( younger generations smoke drugs) and is damaging our health not just diseases but obesity due to calories in drink. Some countries do not allow alcohol to be sold in foods shops, garage etc, which makes it harder to buy, instead of giving in to temptation a separate trip to an off licence has to be made. That should be changed in the UK

Farzanah

Alcohol is undoubtedly a risk for many cancers notably breast, mouth and throat, colon, rectum and liver. A new beverage with a similar risk profile and social toll would definitely carry a warning, or may possibly be banned. Cigarettes cause cancer and display a warning, and smoking has declined markedly. A warning on the bottle may not stop established drinkers, but may deter some from starting in the first place.

The problem is that alcohol is so well established in our social fabric and much social life revolves around it that it is anti social to be a non drinker.

I haven't drunk alcohol for 7 years and I don't think anybody thinks I'm anti-social. Most people I know are used to my ordering a fizzy water in social situations and nobody has ever commented. Alcohol drinking is declining amongst young people.

The importance of the biome and the damage UPFs do to our health is all new science. It was not in the public domain 5 years ago, or not noticably.

Farzanah
You’re a tad behind the times with that thinking.
Why do you think the major drinks manufacturers are selling more and more non alcoholic drinks. It’s because more and more people are choosing them.

petra You are absolutely right in the younger demographic but according to stats (Institute of Alcohol Studies) 55 - 74 yr olds drink 30% more than 16 - 24 yr olds. Age specific deaths wholly attributable to alcohol, were 8,274 in 2023 (latest figures) an increase of a huge 42.2% since 2019. ASDs were highest in 60yr olds. So we have a way to go yet!

Ironically areas of U.K. which had high smoking rates have seen rates decline but alcohol consumption increased!

Perhaps as we oldies die out the problem will resolve 🙂

As growstuff said these lectures are aimed at 11 to 17 year olds. If these folk can be educated in the importance of eating proper food and realising what some edible items ( I hesitate to call it food ) are made from. Then possible the next generation stands a chance The consumption of UPF in this country is one of the highest in Europe, over 50 % compared to France which is in the region of15%. Figures are approx and from memory

Gwyllt

As growstuff said these lectures are aimed at 11 to 17 year olds. If these folk can be educated in the importance of eating proper food and realising what some edible items ( I hesitate to call it food ) are made from. Then possible the next generation stands a chance The consumption of UPF in this country is one of the highest in Europe, over 50 % compared to France which is in the region of15%. Figures are approx and from memory

Of course in France, food is considered not just fuel/fodder, but something to care about and enjoy, to buy fresh and to cook thoughtfully.
The children get served wonderful school meals, I believe most schools still have a cook and kitchens. The children get three courses and are expected to eat with a knife and fork.
In France, the restaurants are always jammed at lunchtime and the noise of constant talking and laughing fills the air. You see only a few phones on the table.
One of my daughters had a holiday job at a hostel where there was a large group of French people. She was amused to relate that they spent an entire day going back and forwards to the kitchen discussing the meal they were going to have that night - what it would consist of, how it would be cooked, who would do the cooking and so on. A bit different to ordering up pizzas!

petra

Farzanah
You’re a tad behind the times with that thinking.
Why do you think the major drinks manufacturers are selling more and more non alcoholic drinks. It’s because more and more people are choosing them.

I'm certainly glad to see more non-alcoholic substitute drinks around these days and am gradually working my way through trying them out.

It was pretty clear that alcohol was at fault for Lockdown weight gain in my case. I'm a pretty moderate drinker - but just prior to Lockdown had got back down from around 10.5 stones to 9 stones 5 lb and my figure looked reasonably presentable again (got my flat stomach back and cheekbones re-emerging). I was on my way back down to my normal 8 stone 7lbs (which I'd not been for some time). But when I realised they'd not meant it all when they said Lockdown would be for 2 weeks (yep...I was literally counting the days and it clicked they'd lied when it was 2 weeks, 5 days later and they hadn't announced it was over yet) then I decided to drown my sorrows basically until they darn well did make that announcement. They never did in the event - and it's clear they never will and I must be back up to that original weight and I want to be vanity size 10-12 (ie to match "my" size of size 14) and not vanity size 16-18.

So - darn nearly teetotal it is then....

Notagranyet even in Françe consumption of UPF is increasing, a recent survey showed 31% of daily nutrition was provided by UPF, it’s similar in other European countries.

Jaxjacky

Notagranyet even in Françe consumption of UPF is increasing, a recent survey showed 31% of daily nutrition was provided by UPF, it’s similar in other European countries.

Yes, I've heard, sad. It's to do with ease of buying these products I suppose but alarming to think of the damage they are doing to the unaware.
Hopefully not in French schools yet!
thegoodlifefrance.com/how-come-french-kids-eat-everything/