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Dr Anna M L Smith

Tel: 077175 70805
Email: anna@oxongp.co.uk

Ultra Processed Food (Upf) With Professor Tim Spector

07 June 2023
Overnight oats with berries

I watched the panorama programme this week about Ultra Processed Food (UPF) with Professor Tim Spector.

There is emerging scientific evidence that there is a link with the chemicals in UPF with diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

It goes back to making food advice simple:

  • Eat real food- food you recognise!
  • Eat more fruit and veg- add an extra portion alongside your meal.
  • Try added lentils or beans to your meal for added fibre.
  • Try Fasting- you could eat breakfast a bit later.
  • Avoid anything in a packet with more than 5 ingredients- that includes breakfast cereals!
  • Avoid snacks in the day and evening.
  • Watch the sugar content of foods including white bread, white pasta, and white rice!
  • Avoid anything which says ‘low… reduced…’ It probably has artificial sweetener in it.

Simple tips: batch cook and freeze; Make a larger salad to eat on the side for 2 evenings; cut up lots of veg on Sunday night ready for the week; have a visible fruit bowl, take a salad to work with added pulses / lentils; make overnight oats in a Tupperware to grab in the morning for breakfast at work.


By: Dr Anna Smith