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From Ultra-Processed to Healthy: Cracking the Code

Dec 11, 2023 | Daily Trek, Unlearn

From Ultra-Processed to Healthy: Cracking the Code - Radical Trekking - Ayelet Baron

From ultra-processed to healthy asks us to become aware of the relationship between our choices and their impact on our overall wellbeing. Have you ever wondered why so many people in industrialized Western societies have unhealthy microbiomes that lack diversity?

In today’s world, where industrialization and fast-paced living dominate, our choices around food and consumption have profound impacts on our health and environment. The prevalence of ultra-processed foods in Western societies isn’t just a matter of convenience. It’s a reflection of a deeper issue where priorities have shifted towards quantity over quality, speed over sustenance.

Food companies, in their quest to ‘sweeten the world,’ have inadvertently increased the risk of diseases. This isn’t merely about adding sugar to products. It’s a metaphor for the excessive refining and processing of food that strips it of nutritional value and diversity, essential for a healthy microbiome. Our microbiomes thrive on variety and natural wholesomeness. Yet, the modern diet is often monotonous and artificial.

Consider this: a race to the bottom begins when we equate more with better. When the pursuit of scale, speed, and cost-effectiveness overshadows the essence of nourishment. We end up nurturing a system that harms not only our personal health but also the health of our planet and communities. This system, driven by intentionality towards profit and expansion, disregards the intricate balance required for holistic wellbeing.

The incredible waste of resources in this scenario isn’t just about the tangible—water, soil, energy—but also the intangible: health, energy, and vitality. As long as we see ourselves primarily as consumers rather than as creators of our health, this cycle will persist.

Take, for instance, a popular fast-food chain’s strategy to expand aggressively. It’s not just about offering more burgers; it’s about embedding a culture of excess in every aspect—from the size of the portions to the reach of their marketing campaigns. This approach doesn’t just encourage consumption; it normalizes and amplifies it.

Now, imagine the CEO of such a company. What does he tell himself every morning? Perhaps he focuses on the success metrics—the growth in numbers, the expansion plans, the profits. But beneath these numbers, there’s a story untold: the impact of these decisions on our collective health and the planet. It’s a narrative that needs attention, questioning, and ultimately, a shift in choices from each of us.

Are we racing to the bottom? Does more truly equate to better? When we prioritize bigger, cheaper, and faster, do we sacrifice our health? Can we pause and discern what nourishes and what depletes us, making choices that enrich us holistically?

Is this an opportunity to recognize the myth of self-made success. Every time we opt for an ultra-processed fast food burger, we pay with our health and contribute to a wealth that erodes our individual and collective health.

Our consumption choices create billionaires, but these choices often don’t align with our wellbeing.

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