Make delicious carrots with golden caramelised edges by following this easy cooking hack
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Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Cereal bars might seem healthy - but they contain additives linked to weight gain
A groundbreaking clinical trial has revealed how ultra processed foods (UPFs) can harm the body even when not high in salt, sugar or fat - suggesting the way food is made might affect our health Martin is responsible for the health and science beat at the Mirror. He has experience reporting over a decade including medical advances in everything from cancer to dementia and obesity around the world, as well as breakthroughs in the UK. Martin covered the Covid-19 pandemic and continues to scrutinise the state of the NHS. Martin runs a number of Mirror campaigns including; Dentists for All, Give a Pint Save a Life, Fair Care for All and Change the Law for Life. UPFs have been the subject of some debate in Britain ever since TV doctor Chris van Tulleken's blockbuster book Ultra-Processed People. Many suspect the additives packed into everything from cereal bars to pastries, pies, wraps and ready meals - to make them taste nice and last longer - could actually be harming us. But this is very difficult to prove because until now, observational studies have just shown that people who eat more UPFs are more likely to be ill and overweight. This is complicated by the fact that UPFs are also more likely to be high in calories, fat, sugar and salt. And people who eat a lot of UPFs are also more likely to smoke and do less exercise. So Professor van Tulleken and his colleagues at University College London have run a clinical trial to to tease out the impact of these multiple industrial processes and the addition of ingredients not typically found in home cooking. The trial involved 55 people each given eight weeks trying two diets matched exactly for levels of fat, saturated fat, protein, carbohydrates, salt and fibre. The only difference was that one diet was made up of only UPFs, and the second a diet included only minimally processed foods such as porridge oats and home cooked spaghetti bolognese. Participants lost twice as much weight on the non-UPF diet - proving for the first time there is something going on in the processing. Professor van Tulleken, of University College London, said: "The global food system at the moment drives diet-related poor health and obesity, particularly because of the wide availability of cheap, unhealthy food. This study highlights the importance of ultra-processing in driving health outcomes in addition to the role of nutrients like fat, salt and sugar." Tracy Parker, nutrition lead at the British Heart Foundation, said: 'These findings support what we have long suspected – that the way food is made might affect our health, not just the nutrients it contains.' Chris van Tulleken's book Ultra-Processed People was adapted into a BBC Two documentary called Irresistible: Why We Can't Stop Eating. They explore the addictive nature of UPFs and their impact on our health and society. UPFs typically contain preservatives, emulsifiers, artificial colours and flavours which are used to enhance taste, texture and prolong shelf life. They are hard to avoid. Most supermarket sliced bread is a UPF as well as shop-bought sandwiches, wraps, pastries, instant noodles, crisps, some breakfast cereals and ice cream. The new trial ensured both UPF and non-UPF diet options met criteria using the NHS-backed Eatwell Guide, which outlines recommendations on how to eat a healthy, balanced diet. Despite this, after eight weeks on the non-UPF diet participants lost 2% of their body weight, compared to 1% after eight weeks on the only-UPFs diet. Scaled up over a year it suggests a 13% weight reduction in men and a 9% reduction in women on the minimally processed diet, but only a 4% weight reduction in men and 5% in women after the ultra-processed diet. Those on the trial were also asked to complete questionnaires on food cravings before and after starting the diets. Those eating minimally processed foods had less cravings and were able to resist them better. The UPF diet also did not result in significant fat loss. Tracy Parker, nutrition lead at the British Heart Foundation, added: 'Completely cutting UPFs out of our diets isn't realistic for most of us. But including more minimally processed foods – like fresh or home cooked meals – alongside a balanced diet could offer added benefits too. Mediterranean-style diets, which include plenty of minimally or unprocessed foods such as fruit, vegetables, fish, nuts and seeds, beans, lentils and whole grains, have consistently been shown to reduce our risk of heart attacks and strokes.' The Eatwell Guide recommends the average woman should consume around 2,000 calories a day, while an average man should consume 2,500. Participants were generally consuming more than this before they started the trial. Senior author Professor Rachel Batterham said: "The best advice to people would be to stick as closely to nutritional guidelines as they can by moderating overall energy intake, limiting intake of salt, sugar and saturated fat, and prioritising high-fibre foods such as fruits, vegetables, pulses and nuts. "Choosing less processed options such as whole foods and cooking from scratch, rather than ultra-processed, packaged foods or ready meals, is likely to offer additional benefits in terms of body weight, body composition and overall health." UPFs have artificial additives to boost flavour and shelf life including emulsifiers, sweeteners, stabilising gums, flavour compounds and colouring agents. These are typically not used in home cooking but can be cheaper in mass produced food than natural ingredients. The findings are published in Nature Medicine.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
The ‘voodoo magic' eye trick that makes you fall back asleep in seconds, after you've woken up at 3am
ONE woman thinks she's found the perfect trick to guarantee a good night's sleep and it just takes some eye movement. Dermatologist Jenna Coakley shared her sleeping hack that makes sure you get back to sleep, even if you've woken up in the middle of the night. 3 Jenna shared her nifty trick on her TikTok account and described it as so effective it was like "voodoo magic." 'I saw this trick on Instagram for falling back asleep if you wake up in the middle of the night and I was like, no way does this actually work,' she said on TikTok. 'But I've tried it a couple of nights in a row and it literally works — it's the best trick I've ever tried.' How to do it Jenna then described the movement was as simple as keeping your eyes closed, then look to the right, and then to the left, followed by looking up, down, then move your eyes around in a circle. Finally, move your eyes around the other way and repeat the process as many times as you need to in order to fall asleep, according to the skin expert. Psychology trick The trick is derived from EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing), popularized by none other than Prince Harry. It is a type of psychological therapy that helps people come to terms with traumatic experiences. The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) states that EMDR therapy can help you process experiences that are having an impact on your mental health and wellbeing. Dr Justin Havens said it involves using side to side eye movements combined with talk therapy in a specific and structured format. It can help process negative images or emotions a person associates with a certain memory. Top ten nature sounds for a goodnight's sleep when camping revealed from raindrops to flapping tent fabric The therapy can help you see things from a different perspective and can also help you relieve symptoms. It can help with conditions such as PTSD, anxiety, depression, addictions, behavioural difficulties, relationship issues and more serious mental illnesses such as psychosis and personality disorders. Dr Havens said: "Many of these problems may actually be rooted in some kind of trauma, whether that's someone being bullied, criticised or abused in some way, either during childhood or as an adult, and it isn't always obvious that this is the case." 3
Scottish Sun
5 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Brit, 23, left with fractured spine in 30ft plunge while working ‘dream job' at US camp as family plea to get her home
Her family need £45,000 to fly her back to the UK after her insurance refused to cover the costs HORROR FALL Brit, 23, left with fractured spine in 30ft plunge while working 'dream job' at US camp as family plea to get her home Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A BRITISH woman is stranded in the US with devastating injuries after plunging 30ft during a hike at a children's summer camp. Charlotte Hollins Anderton, 23, was working her dream summer job as a camp leader in Washington state when tragedy struck. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Charlotte Hollins Anderton suffered horrific injuries in a 30ft fall on her dream job working as a summer camp leader in the US Credit: WNS 6 The 23-year-old is now stranded in America as her family needs £45,000 to get her home Credit: WNS 6 The young woman from Wales broke both her feet in the horror fall Credit: WNS The former York University student was leading children on an Independence Day hike when she fell 30ft – fracturing her spine, shattering both feet and suffering internal bleeding. Her family say she endured an excruciating eight-hour wait for rescue in remote terrain before being rushed to hospital. She's since undergone multiple surgeries, been treated in intensive care, and is now battling not just physical injuries, but intense emotional trauma. And as if the ordeal wasn't already harrowing enough, her family have been hit with the devastating news that her insurance provider won't pay for her medical repatriation to the UK. In a heartfelt appeal on GoFundMe, they wrote: "Our beautiful Charlotte was tragically involved in a life changing accident whilst working as a camp leader this summer. "She has suffered a life threatening fall on the 4th July and has been hospitalised since. "Her fall resulted in spinal and foot fractures requiring multiple surgeries, internal bleeding, and admission to the intensive care unit." Now, the family are urgently trying to raise a whopping £45,000 to get Charlotte home so she can access specialist NHS care and recover surrounded by loved ones. A source close to them said the situation has left them "shocked, scared and completely heartbroken." The fundraising page has been flooded with messages of support, and Charlotte's loved ones say they're overwhelmed by the outpouring of kindness. Brit brother & sister, 11 & 13, who drowned on Spain beach as dad tried to save them had begged for 'one last swim' They wrote: "All we want is to have her home. "Thank you all so much already for your kind words, promises of donations and support. "It means more to us than you could imagine." Charlotte, from Abergele, North Wales, had spent last summer working at the same YMCA Camp Seymour in Gig Harbor before returning this year as a leader. It comes as a string of tragic accidents have seen young British tourists lose their lives abroad in recent weeks. Just last month, a 25-year-old holidaymaker died in hospital after falling from a supermarket car park in Ibiza. The man plunged from the Mercadona in San Antonio on the evening of July 14. Despite being rushed to intensive care at a private hospital on the island, he sadly passed away the following day. Days earlier, Kieran Thomas, also 25, from Bangor in north Wales, died after falling from a hotel balcony in Malta in the early hours of July 11. Emergency services were called to Triq Spinola at around 4.15am and found Thomas unresponsive outside the building. His dad, Alan Hughes, told the BBC the family had been deeply touched by the outpouring of support. He said Kieran, who had a twin brother, was working as a software engineer and had 'a promising career ahead of him.' 6 Charlotte had spent last summer working at the same YMCA Camp Seymour in Gig Harbor Credit: WNS 6 The York graduate suffered a fractured spine, two shattered feet and internal bleeding Credit: WNS
