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Ultra-Processed People
- Why Do We All Eat Stuff That Isn’t Food...and Why Can’t We Stop?
- Narrated by: Chris van Tulleken, Dr Xand van Tulleken
- Length: 11 hrs and 35 mins
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Ultra-Processed People
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Summary
Brought to you by Penguin.
This audiobook contains exclusive bonus content between Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken, where they deep-dive into what you've just listened to at the end of each part.
An eye-opening investigation into the science, economics, history and production of ultra-processed food.
It's not you, it's the food.
We have entered a new 'age of eating' where most of our calories come from an entirely novel set of substances called Ultra-Processed Food, food which is industrially processed and designed and marketed to be addictive. But do we really know what it's doing to our bodies?
Join Chris in his travels through the world of food science and a UPF diet to discover what's really going on. Find out why exercise and willpower can't save us, and what UPF is really doing to our bodies, our health, our weight, and the planet (hint: nothing good).
For too long we've been told we just need to make different choices, when really we're living in a food environment that makes it nigh-on impossible. So this is a book about our rights. The right to know what we eat and what it does to our bodies and the right to good, affordable food.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- JALE
- 28-04-23
A good (ISH) isten.
I did enjoy listening, I'm fascinated by the subject of UPF and Chris always makes it fun, interesting and accessible. BUT it's not accurately edited. Xand locked in a box? Some strange repetitions. I'd like an update to my download when the errors are ironed out please!
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52 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Olivia
- 29-04-23
A fantastic, if worrying, read
I try to steer clear of books claiming to be the next big thing in nutrition: it often feels like a different study will be published in a week’s time and we’ll be left not knowing what to do.
But this book is more than that. It’s so fantastic that midway through listening I went and bought the hardback too. Chris does a stellar job at unpacking the history, science and nutrition surrounding UPF, as well as offering a glimmer of hope toward the future of nutrition. He is not patronising, never judgemental of individual choices - in fact, he presents a strong case that for many living in our times, ‘choice’ is an illusion.
I want to send this book to politicians, conglomerates, friends, family, supermarkets - anyone who will listen.
This book may well change the way you choose to eat - and perhaps even your lifelong health.
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42 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Marleena
- 03-05-23
This book isn't a diet book, but it is about diet
For those of us who practice intermittent fasting this book tells about the other side of that coin, as we also practice intermittent eating. And what we eat matters.
The author takes a deep look into, through nutritional science and interviews with researchers and people with insider knowledge on how the industrial method of creating foods might well be a contributor to population level rises in obesity in people who have adopted the standard western diet high in ultra-processed foods, including the ones marketed as healthy diet options.
The book explains how some of the very poorly regulated, thousands of additives in industrial foods affect our body, in particular the microbiome and satiety signals. Included is a detailed look on how highly palatable, soft industrially processed foods both promote over eating and are processed quickly.
It also takes a look on the social costs that the practices of some multinational companies have on marginalised communities and how these companies actively are changing traditional food cultures.
The classification on What Is an Ultra-processed food is one that seems to be the most difficult to establish and it is addressed throughout the book. This ambiguity is what is most likely to be the target of push back from those invested in big food. Many foods are obvious, like a weight loss protein shake, low fat flavoured yoghurt or pretty much all the bread my supermarket sells, but with the more ambiguous ones we are to make our own mind up.
The author doesn't set out to change the way we eat (though this is likely after reading the book), he wants to give people an informed choice and fully acknowledges that some of us are stuck in situations where real food choices are limited, either by geography or by economic circumstance.
I listened to the Audiobook and this has a podcast like extra material with Chris talking to his brother about the book and findings in it. I personally found this interesting, even if it distracted from the well edited, beautifully executed, almost prosaic writing in the book.
If you are interested in diet and where nutricional science is heading, and aren't afraid of some of your previous set believes in nutrition and health challenged then read (or listen to this). 🙂
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24 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Nicky Marchbank
- 04-05-23
Really interesting
The book is well narrated- read with passion. The contents are so, so interesting and well researched and has totally changed how I view food. As I have avoided fast food and chicken nuggets and the like for a long time I thought I ate well but I have now realised that I don’t and the changes that I can make which aren’t easy but I am persuaded by the book that they are worthwhile for me, the planet and people who are currently being exploited. Can’t recommend enough.
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22 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Andrea
- 29-04-23
Much to consider
My advice: If you know you have a less-than-ideal relationship with processed foods, read this book! Or if you're merely curious about how to have a more healthy diet, read this book (and Food For Life by Tim Spector)!
I almost let the 'celebrity' of Chris Van Tulleken put me off from purchasing this book, I'm so glad it didn't. I'd previously listened to A Thorough Examination - Addicted To Food podcast and a lot of the topics covered in that and this book are very relatable.
I feel very emotional on finishing this book, in a good way because the message had reached me and I'd already made some big changes that will be further underpinned by listening to this. I sincerely hope that the messages in this will reach as many individuals as possible and eventually help to shape food policy. Until then, I will continue to avoid the majority of aisles in our vast supermarkets in the UK.
While I was listening I was thinking about the 'backlash' that will likely follow from the brands mentioned in the book. It was very interesting to hear that raised in the final audiobook bonus chat, I thank and respect everyone involved in facing that head on and not cowering from it.
Overall - bravo, excellent!
Postscript: I agree with another reviewer that there was a lot of repetition and that all but the final bonus conversation with Xand need the sound levels resolving but this didn't distract too much from the overall enjoyment and prompt to have a bl**dy good think!
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17 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Cam
- 13-05-23
Wish I’d bought it in print, terrible listen
Unfortunately I’m really struggling to listen to the audio. He’s clearly an expert in his field and I want to know what he has to say, but I can’t listen to more than 10 minutes at a time- it’s exhausting. It is read out far too quickly, with barely a pause for a full stop or change of subject, meaning it is difficult to follow. I just want to say “whoa, slow down and take a breath”. Would have been better to bring in a professional audiobook reader. Shame I’ve wasted this month’s credit, as I can’t see myself getting beyond chapter 2.
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11 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- ERV Scott
- 04-05-23
Everyone needs to read this
Transformative information. I’m gobsmacked. I thought I knew a lot…I had a lot left to learn! You’ll never look at a ready meal or frozen pizza in the same way again.
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11 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- dakota
- 12-06-23
made me feel very dysphoric
if you struggle with weight dysphoria, avoid this book. I found that while listening the constant mention of obesity and diets made me feel increasingly dysphoric about my own weight
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9 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Tim
- 01-05-23
Wish I’d known this before!
Fascinating and current if you’re interested in food, your health and the planet. Well narrated, a pleasure to listen to.
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8 people found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Leena
- 13-08-23
Lack of professional knowledge
As a dietitian this was rollercoaster ride.
The author’s lack of basic nutritional and dietetics knowhow is blatantly obvious. He just isn’t qualified to interpret research and findings in this field. I was waiting for a systematic section where he’d walk through the mechanisms he things are at play, but this book does not have a section like that. It’s okay to write about the unknown, but in this more it’s done in a dubious way of saying that since in the writer opinion thing x is not natural, it must be harmful even if there’s no evidence of that. In a case like that, you’d need to give at least your beat guesstimation on the mechanisms that could be at play.
I agree that the food system is broken, but if that was his argument where were was the criticism on capitalism? These themes could’ve been discussed more in-depth.
A book that could be used in scientific journal clubs as a conversation starter and means to practice scientific argumentation (or the lack of).
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6 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 07-11-23
Important, entertaining and i can’t stop talking about it
This book has changed the way I think about food, obesity and the whole economy. It’s time I learnt to cook real food!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 07-11-23
A very important read, it being enjoyable is a major plus.
A much needed explanation of UPF, without the judgments and push towards any kind of diet. The author has made the painstaking effort of covering a topic from all aspects (scientific, historic, socio-economic) to allow his readers a good chance at making informed decisions - something that has been taken away from us as consumers for far too long. Thoroughly researched, and delivered in such entertaining manner. I agree that if someone from this era must read only one book about nutrition, this would be it.
Chris, thank you for taking the risks and shedding some light on what the food conglomerates have tried to hide from us for decades. You are a hero for this.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Mark Carter
- 13-09-23
Excellent eye opening book
Unsure if I’ll ever browse the aisles at a supermarket the same. A very interesting and well put together book
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 30-06-23
Informative but I disagree on some points
Great info on UPFs. I disagree on saying traditional food is always healthy. Dairy is generally NutriScore D or E. Sure, low fat yogurt is nutri score A but most dairy is "natural" and traditional but terrible for health.
I agree that margarine is bad but so is butter.
Ignoring the saturated fat and dairy issues I think the book is a great expose on ultra processed foods and made me rethink my choices even if my diet is mostly healthy food.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Kent
- 21-06-23
Listen, and eat whole foods
The idea that food has to be fast end easy to eat is made up by the fast-food industry. Ultra processed food is the result of industry making the largest amount of profits by selling the least amount of real food. This book exposes the truth on ultra processed food. Highly recommend!
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