Cardiologist alters weekly food choices for extended lifespan - focused on grocery purchases.
** retreat to a wholesome diet: cardiologist Eric Topol**
Eating healthy might seem tough, but when you're a world-renowned cardiologist, it's essential to walk the talk. Eric Topol, the man behind the bestseller "Super Agers", took it upon himself to almost completely eliminate ultra-processed foods from his diet. No more boxes or packages filled with unhealthy stuff!
"I've read labels, now I avoid them," Topol stated boldly. He follows a strict shopping pattern, focusing on fresh fruits, vegetables, and yogurt for his meals. If you catch him at the supermarket today, his cart will be bursting with healthiness, standing out like a beacon amid the processed food section.
When asked about this sudden lifestyle change, Topol explained that this occurred during his research for "Super Agers". He started examining packaged and mass-produced foods more closely and realized they were loaded with harmful substances. "I call them UFOs," he joked, "some of these things were laden with bad stuff I wasn't even aware of."
A flip-flop from fiber's counterpart
Sticking to the perimeter of the supermarket, Topol avoids the aisles brimming with highly processed products. According to his book, ultra-processed foods are the polar opposite of fiber, an essential nutrient abundant in fresh foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, and grains. Fiber is crucial for long-term health, aiding in digestion, improving cholesterol levels, promoting gut health, and stabilizing blood sugar. Ultra-processed foods, on the other hand, have none of these benefits; instead, they contribute to various inflammatory conditions and metabolic disorders.
"The Western diet, rich in ultra-processed foods, is pro-inflammatory and linked to diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and colorectal cancer," Topol's book states. Although he previously maintained a healthy diet, his recent research has made him even more vigilant about what he consumes.
Not all packaged foods are created equally
Researchers studying ultra-processed foods have found that not all of them are equally detrimental. Whole grain cereals and ultra-processed yogurts have fewer negative effects compared to processed snacks, desserts, and sugary drinks like soda and juice. While these junk foods are consistently tied to poor long-term health outcomes, some packaged food items, like canned chickpeas, salted black beans, frozen vegetables, and fish, are simply processed foods associated with fewer health concerns.
A simple swap for a healthier life
Topol admits that his new shopping routine has made his daily diet easier to manage. He no longer spends hours poring over food labels or searching for harmful ingredients such as high-fructose corn syrup, palm oil, artificial sweeteners, and more. Now, he enjoys simple meals like salad in the evenings and yogurt with berries in the mornings, creating a nutritious, balanced diet.
As someone who has dedicated his life to understanding the human body's complex workings, Topol's advice should be taken seriously. If you want to live a longer, healthier life, it's time to ditch those UFOs and embrace a more natural, wholesome diet!
"What about his preference for wholesome foods over ultra-processed ones in light of science?""After realizing the harmful substances in packaged foods, Topol now champions health-and-wellness through fitness-and-exercise, nutrition, and a focus on fiber-rich, science-backed dietary choices."
