Spring often brings a deluge of toxic messaging around “summer body prep”, but, as always, it’s better to focus on keeping your body strong and well-nourished. Here, five nutritionists and naturopaths tell Vogue the foods they always steer clear of, from UPFs to diet foods.
Sarah Benhamou
Processed deli meats. The reason? They contain nitrites, which are known to have a negative impact on health.
Industrial fruit juices. Not only are they guaranteed to spike blood sugar levels, but they also have almost no nutritional value.
Processed convenience foods. Their composition is more than dubious. If you’re crunched for time, choose organic frozen fish with organic frozen vegetables. Bake them for 15 minutes, and enjoy a healthy meal.
Lucile Champy
Pre-packaged puddings. They’re ultra-processed and contain additives that do terrible damage to our microbiota and increase chronic inflammation. It’s so easy to make homemade versions with real ingredients.
0% fat yoghurts. Paradoxically, consuming diet products is the best way to gain weight. They are often sweeter (to compensate for the lack of fat), while “sugar-free” versions are loaded with artificial sweeteners.
Butter. I’m not anti-butter, but I prefer ghee or healthy oils.
Mary Delberghe
Cows’ milk yoghurts. At least the ones from supermarkets, which are inflammatory and acidifying. They contain cows’ milk proteins (such as casein) and lactose, which can be difficult to digest for some people and lead to inflammatory reactions. I’ve seen a real difference in my skin and digestion after cutting them out. I’ve replaced them with plant-based yoghurts and compotes.
Margarine. This butter substitute has no nutritional benefits whatsoever. Vegetable oils are disastrous for the planet and for our health, and most commercial margarines contain both trans fats (known to increase cholesterol levels and the risk of heart disease) and hydrogenated vegetable oils. Instead, I use real sources of fat such as butter, ghee, and coconut, olive, or nut oils.
Industrial fruit juices. These are often full of added sugar and lack the beneficial fibre found in whole fruit. They can also cause blood sugar levels to spike throughout the day, which can have consequences for our weight and energy levels.
Mary Capelle
Processed convenience foods. They’re too high in salt and bad fats. I prefer to have plenty of vegetables in my fridge to snack on.
Butter. It’s too rich in saturated fats. For cooking, I prefer steaming, even if it means adding good fats with omega-3s to my vegetables afterwards, or, if I use a frying pan, I opt for olive oil or coconut oil.
Industrial fruit juices. When fruit juice is extracted, the fibres that trap the sugar are gone, making it both sweeter and less healthy for us. Instead of juice, try flavouring your H2O by adding a tablespoon of mint, orange blossom or thyme water for every 500ml. Mint helps digestion, orange blossom soothes, and thyme is purifying.
Mélodie Dewever
Cows’ milk products. Dairy products made from cows’ milk are inflammatory, containing an enzyme that makes digestion difficult, as well as casein, a protein to which many people are sensitive (and which can lead to acne, digestive problems, migraines, and more). That’s before mentioning the cardiovascular problems they can cause, and the environmental impact of their production.
Processed products. I’m an advocate of fresh, raw produce, which can be assembled and prepared simply by adding herbs, spices, and lemon.
Sodas. They’re full of sugar (even Diet Coke), highly inflammatory and cause blood sugar levels to soar. I prefer a good sparkling water with a spoonful of Gimber (a ginger-based drink), or simply water with a little lemon and mint.
