Ultra-Processed Foods: Are They Actually Killing Us? (Because I Eat Them Constantly)

This week on Field Notes, we enter the land of: Ultra-Processed Food.According to certain very serious doctors on the internet, UPFs are now:“The leading cause of early death on planet earth. Ahead of tobacco.”Cool.Not dramatic at all.So naturally, I’ve decided to test whether cutting them out for a week will:Improve my migrainesReduce my exhaustionFix my yo-yo weight historyOr simply make me feral and resentfulBecause unfortunately… most of the things listed as “ultra-processed” are the things I actually eat.🥪 In This Episode We Discuss:What actually counts as Ultra-Processed Food (and how inconsistent the definitions are)The claim that UPFs are worse than tobaccoThe inflammation / microbiome argumentThe counter-argument from registered dietitiansWhether the research is observational or causalFood anxiety vs legitimate health concernMy chaotic personal dietGrowing up on enforced raw spinachCheese-based GCSE breakdownsYo-yo weight cycles and hyper-palatable foodOzempic changing the household food dynamicWhether non-UPF eating is realistic with childrenWhy I eat like a 19-year-old boy with a student loanAnd whether “whole foods” are actually practical in real life🍽 Personal Context (Aka Why This Is a Problem)My current diet includes:Fistfuls of turkeySalt & vinegar crispsTuna pastaMushroom coffeeMinimal fruitSuspiciously little fibreMeanwhile the internet is telling me my gut lining is dissolving and my liver is weeping.So this week I attempt to go:👉 UPF-Free (or as close as I can manage)And we’ll see whether:My energy changesMy migraines shiftMy mood improvesOr whether I simply miss crisps🧠 Bigger QuestionsAre we pathologising modern food?Is this another wellness panic?Or is the hyper-palatable environment genuinely wrecking us?Can a busy parent realistically cook everything from scratch?And why does cutting processed food feel so emotionally loaded?👵 Guru & Granny ReturnsThis week’s dilemma:“I’ve narrowed it down to three husband contenders. How do I choose?”Featuring:The Strong Stomach Theory™The Chap OlympiadEscape room testingVomit resilienceAnd a brief detour into secret familiesYou’re welcome.📚 JOIN “ACTUALLY TRYING”If you’d like to improve your life without becoming insufferable:Join the book club / self-improvement group chat over on Substack.This month:👉 Atomic Habits by James ClearYou’ll get:Weekly practical breakdownsPrivate podcast episodesCheat sheetsKnowledge topicsAnd a place to collectively sort ourselves outJoin here:https://rosehoneymorgan.substack.com/subscribeOr sign up free for the weekly notes.📲 Follow & ShareFollow on Instagram:@[email protected] this episode with someone who:Owns at least three types of oat milkIs suspicious of emulsifiersOr eats crisps in the car and calls it “lunch”Follow along to see me desperately trying in real time on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rosehoneymorgan/For podcast clips and BTS stories: https://www.instagram.com/actuallytryingpodYoutube: www.youtube.com/@rose.honey.morganFor brand enquiries: [email protected]***DM me with your Guru & Granny questions on Instagram*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.