When Dr. Sabrina and I go to the grocery store, most of our cart is filled with fresh fruit and produce, grass fed organic dairy and healthy sources of protein (beef chicken and fish). We try and keep the pre-packaged food to a minimum. There are a number of reasons why we shop that way. Primarily, we want to control what we are putting into our body – the old adage of “you are what you eat” holds true, especially today. I recently came across an infographic by Dr. Mark Hyman, MD – a prominent US functional medical doctor who is a strong advocate of the importance of a healthy diet.
The article was talking about how the “Corporate Food Industry” has radically changed the way we eat – swapping real, whole ingredients for ultra-processed, chemically engineered formulas designed for shelf life (not human life) and keeping those who eat them regularly – addicted and unhealthy. The food industry has pumped billions into making products cheaper to produce, and more addictive. Replacing nourishing fats with hydrogenated oils, real sugar with high fructose corn syrup, and simple ingredients with synthetic additives, emulsifiers, and preservatives.
Changes in our food has led to a massive rise in obesity, diabetes, gut disorders, metabolic dysfunction and heart disease. These ultra-processed foods contribute to chronic inflammation, hormonal disruption, and even changes in brain chemistry that drive overeating and addiction.
Decades ago, packaged foods contained ingredients that we could recognize and pronounce. The same products today, however, have a long of ingredients most of which we can not recognize – see the examples below. For example: high fructose corn syrup and maltodextrin, which spike blood sugar and fuel insulin resistance. Artificial colors like Red 40 and caramel color, contain compounds linked to cancer and behavioral issues. Emulsifiers such as carrageenan, disrupt the gut microbiome and contribute to leaky gut. The list goes on and on. These aren’t just ingredients—they’re part of a food system that prioritizes profit over public health.
If we want to fix our broken food system, we need more than personal responsibility. We need policy changes that incentivize regenerative agriculture, support local farmers, and hold food companies accountable for misleading health claims. Government policies continue to subsidize ultra-processed foods while failing to regulate harmful additives. As a consumer you have the power to drive change. By choosing real food, supporting businesses that prioritize health, and advocating for policies that make nutritious food accessible to everyone, we can reclaim our health and reshape our food system. Our food system has been hijacked, but we can take it back.
Dr. Hyman had included a few examples of common products many of us had as kids (for those 40 and older) and compared their ingredients to the modern-day counterpart. The ingredient lists have changed dramatically, and not for the better. Read food labels carefully. Choose whole foods when available. Demand better.
