Full script:
Oh hey there. We’re back.
Good to have all of you here for another episode of Bite Sized, a podcast for paid subscribers of Forkful where we dive in and have bite-sized discussions about the latest nutrition news. This week I’ve got three juicy stories to dive into with some bite-sized thoughts, so let’s just dive in, shall we?
A recent poll supported by the AARP and the University of Michigan came to the conclusion that 13% of adults between the ages of 50 and 80 have a food addiction.
These foods are the highly processed ones, full of empty calories and evidently also labeled as “comfort foods.” Which, of course, makes me cringe when I think about it. Why do we label a food as a comfort? What’s a comfort food to me may not be one for you, and…this still puts adds an emotional label to a food, which we know sets us all up for failure in the first place.
Anyways, the survey results show that for some people, foods such as sweets, salty snacks, sugary drinks, and fast food can be highly addictive, causing intense cravings and even showing signs of withdrawal when not consumed.
Is it bad of me to say…no duh? Like did we need a study to show us that our food system sucks? And, what’s worse, these are the foods typically sold in food deserts and areas where households are dealing with food insecurities, because they are cheap, shelf-stable options that are easy for families to grab at the local dollar store.
I don’t really have a resounding thought about this study except for the fact that this doesn’t feel that enlightening. We know that foods that don’t have nutritional value (ones that lack satiating healthy fats and proteins) provide any sort of sustenance for a person, causing them to consume more of it. And these foods taste good but leave you feeling hungry, so of course people keep wanting to eat them!
I guess what I’m trying to get at is, a study like this isn’t going to fix the problem. If we want people to actually eat food that is good for their bodies while also eating foods that are tasty, the food system would have to change. A spotlight study on food addiction just won’t do it. The entire system needs an overhaul.
For an article that I recently published, I had the chance to talk to David C. Nieman, a researcher in North Carolina who explained a study he worked on regarding almonds and exercise recovery. In short, the study shows that the polyphenols found in the skin of almonds can benefit exercise recovery, improve a person’s mood, and boost one’s gut health.
In my interview with Dr. Nieman, I found something he said to be intriguing: When it comes to relying on almonds to help exercise recovery, there’s actually this “loading” period where it takes about two weeks for the gut and the body to use the almonds effectively. AKA, eating almonds once won’t do anything right away. Eating a healthy snack like almonds over time is what creates lasting change.
And heck, isn’t that what it’s all about? A healthy diet over time creates long-term change. A quick-fix diet or meal won’t solve all of our problems, even if the media makes it seem that way sometimes. It’s about feeding our bodies and taking care of ourselves for the long term, to create healthy change that benefits and lasts us. We may not see the results we want right away, but slowly, things will benefit us for the better. It’s about being patient and letting the body do what it needs to do.
For our last study, let’s talk about dairy. Again.
If you’ve been following me for a while now, you know I’ve written a bit on debunking the idea that dairy causes inflammation. A high intake of saturated fat causes inflammation, which dairy does have some of. But dairy outright doesn’t cause inflammation, and when consumed in moderation, it actually can have anti-inflammatory effects—while also providing your body with protein and many vitamins and minerals.
So of course, when a study came out about how the combination of milk and coffee has anti-inflammatory effects, I just had to laugh. Well, of course! People who really know the science aren’t even surprised by these findings, yet it was making headline news this week. Because these two food products—coffee and milk—have been deemed as being bad for you, when in fact, it’s quite the opposite. Seems like a great time to call back on my newsletter about coffee from two weeks ago, right?
Anyways, that’s all I’ve got this week. I hope you enjoyed this bite-sized perspective on the latest nutrition news, and I’ll see you in another two weeks’ time.
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