We know: to lose weight – and stay slim – it is necessary to adopt a balanced diet. But, according to a new study by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (in the United States), it would also be a good idea to avoid ultra-processed, industrial foods.
Flavored dessert creams, sauces in jars, “ready-made” dishes, vacuum-packed sandwiches … An ultra-processed industrial food is defined as a product that contains hydrogenated vegetable oils (“MGV”), glucose-fructose syrup ( or “isoglucose”, or “high fructose corn syrup” or “HFCS”), synthetic flavors and / or emulsifiers.
The American researchers (who published their work in the journal Cell Metabolism) worked with a group of 20 volunteers: 10 healthy men and 10 women. They successively followed two diets: for 2 weeks, they consumed only ultra-processed industrial products (or almost) while, during the following 2 weeks, they were entitled to a “raw” diet, c ‘is to say very little transformed.
Slimming tip: read the labels carefully …
An example ? During the “industrial feeding” phase, the volunteers’ breakfast consisted of a bagel with fresh cheese and a slice of turkey ham (bought in stores); in contrast, during the “raw food” phase, breakfast consisted of oatmeal, bananas, nuts and skim milk.
It is important to emphasize that the meals constituting the two food phases had the same number of calories, carbohydrates and lipids. The portions were offered at will.
Verdict? At the end of the experiment, the researchers noted that after the “industrial feeding” phase, the participants had (on average) gained 0.9 kilograms. They also consumed 500 Kcal more per day compared to the “raw food” phase.
“Ultra-processed industrial food modifies the eating behavior of subjects, which leads to weight gain”, explain the scientists.
Morality? Without necessarily adopting the “raw food” diet (which consists of favoring raw and raw foods), let’s start by carefully examining the labels of our favorite products!
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