Is it for cycling to reckon with its ultra-processed Food problem?

Whether its a high-tech sport nutrition product, bag of Haribo or a mid-ride refuel at a 7-Eleven, us riders tend to justify just about anything we eat on a ride, good, bad or, like that gas station glizzy, just gross, by saying it’ll be burned off by the top of the next hill. While the calories might be, there’s a growing body of science showing that the ultra-processed foods (UPF) that many of these mid-ride snacks contain are having a longer lasting, and very negative impact. Calories may burn off, but these UPF’s are leaving other chemicals behind.

Taking a look at the most recent, and most alarming studies of UPFs, its time that cycling had a reckoning with its eating habits. From high-end hydration and high-carb science food to gas station snacks, it’s looking more and more like our healthy hobby could come with some very unhealthy eating habits.

Speaking from a saddle, but this is no high horse

I will get out in front of this and say I am by all accounts guilty of this. While I’ve shifted away from energy drinks and powders on all but longer rides or the hottest days (+1 point for me!), a have a critical weakness for any 5c candy, especially if its the sour kind (-15-20 points, depending on the day). All cheap candy, Haribo if I’m feeling fancy but anything will do, really, starts as ride food. But just as much of it, if not more, ends up being consumed before or after the ride when it has absolutely zero physiological benefit. It just tastes good.

So when I say “we” need to consider our fuelling / eating habits, I very much mean “I need to consider my eating habits.” But I very much doubt that I am alone.

What’s the problem with ultra-processed Foods?

While not many of us ever thought a hot dog was healthy, there’s a growing body of evidence that this sort of ultra-processed Food is far worse for our health than was previously understood. How bad? Well, The Guardian described the latest series of studies, just published in The Lancet, as showing ultra-processed Foods are “linked to harm in every major organ system of the human body and poses a seismic threat to global health.”

That is… not great.

UPF’s, the largest-study yet shows, are linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and depression, overeating, greater risk of chronic disease, colon cancer.

UPFs are also, the study shows, pervasive…