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The Ultra-Processed Food Debate: Science, Bias, & Truth
Are ultra-processed foods really the villain, or is the story more complicated? In this lively, no-nonsense conversation, endocrinologist Dr. David Ludwig (of Harvard and Boston Children’s Hospital) and journalist Gary Taubes unpack why “UPF” is an enticing label but a blunt tool for science, policy, and everyday guidance.
They cover:
- Why defining “ultra-processed” is messy, and how lumping diverse packaged foods into one bucket can mislead.
- How high-profile trials are interpreted (and misinterpreted), from short study durations to dropout bias and carryover effects.
- The role of bias and confirmation bias in nutrition research and media narratives.
- Where the debate should go next: moving beyond slogans toward mechanisms like how carbohydrate processing affects blood sugar and insulin.
- What to do in the meantime: clearer study design, healthier discourse, and pragmatic takeaways people can use now.
In this conversation, you’ll hear sharp disagreements, candid critiques, and concrete suggestions for doing better science. Plus a spirited back-and-forth on what “good evidence” should look like and how individuals, clinicians, and policymakers can each act on different standards of proof.
What’s at stake isn’t academic nitpicking; it’s policy decisions, headlines, and, ultimately, what lands on your plate.
👉 Stay for the debate, and subscribe to Metabolic Mind for more conversations at the intersection of metabolism and mental health.
Expert Featured:
Dr. David Ludwig
- X: https://x.com/davidludwigmd
- Dr. Ludwig's UPF Study: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2508694
Gary Taubes
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Published on 2 days, 5 hours ago