For many years, a silent shadow has claimed thousands of lives in Mexicoresisting campaigns, treatments and promises of solutions. Scientists, governments and organizations around the world have tried to stop it without complete success. However, thousands of miles away, in a country better known for its fjords than its laboratories,something changed.
In this context, Norway He claims to have found a key that he had only seen coming. This is not a miracle cure or a simple answer, but it is a approach that could completely alter the way our country faces this threat. How did they achieve it? And why are all eyes now pointing towards northern Europe?
The fight against ultra-processed foods
Given the alert by the excess of ultra-processed foodsnutritionists and scientists demand taxes, warning labels y sales limits to combat the impact of the well-known junk food industry on society worldwide.
Currently, the food industry acts with total freedom to design highly appetizing, unhealthy products that are difficult to stop consuming. Likewise, the effort to set some limits falls, again and again, on the willpower of individuals. This is how the system currently works. But can this be sustained much longer?
However, the way we eat is not the result of chance, but there are economic interests behind the industry ultra-processed. The current food system generally responds to economic incentives, which reward those who sell more, more frequently and faster. In it mercadoit does not matter whether the human body needs it or not, it only matters that the product is purchased again.
To achieve this goal, companies have perfected a category of items that are easy to eat, quick to digest and designed to stimulate appetite beyond man’s actual hunger. Junk food designed not to completely satisfy, but to repeat over and over again.
How to choose foods better?
Now, choosing better is quite a challenge in a market where it fills us with temptations. In this sense, health authorities usually put a certain brake on creating dietary guidelines: less fat, less calories, less sugar. While the recommendations are well-intentioned, they are too weak in a context saturated by offers, stimuli and strong marketing.
Consumption information and the high increase in overweight show that something in all of this is wrong. Not because society ignores what is healthy, but because the environment pushes in the opposite direction. This is how the Norwegian clinical nutritionist, Tine Sundfør, put her thoughts straight: awareness is not enoughit’s time to regular. Not as a harsh sanction, but as a correction to a system that is getting out of hand.
Clear labels, regulated portions and controlled marketing
In this context, where the problem is the structure and not the individual, another very critical issue is the so-called health-washing. Overly processed food products that are sold as healthy, distorting their benefits. The famous energy bars that, in reality, are not that different from candy.
Although he labeling system positive has been working for years, it is not enough. Specialists suggest that something more direct is needed, clear alert labels in the most invasive products. Without detours and without confusing messages.
Now, another issue is the giant packages. Family bags, drink packs, promotions designed to consume more than normal. Therefore, regulating sizes is not protectionism, it is putting limits on an absurd scale of consumption. Another point to question is where and how these products are sold; the marketing overdose It doesn’t help things either.
Therefore, choose healthier foods y few processed It is not a fashion. It should be an effective way to regain signs of satiety. And above all, of debate a system that gives more importance to economic benefit of the industry about the collective health of society.
