Interesting article from the BBC claiming that there is some evidence that a diet high in processed foods can increase the risk of depression:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8334353.stm

Of course, it's only a very small study, but wholefoods are better for you anyway.

I am amused by the sentence at the end: "We are particularly concerned about those who cannot access fresh produce easily or live in areas where there are a high number of fast food restaurants and takeaways." Here, I have to walk past at least three cafés and 2 restaurants to get to the supermarket, which is barely 100 yards away, and there are more on the other side of the road, plus a plethora of take-aways! Just as well that eating home-cooked food is cheaper!

Thanks for the link Annabel, it's interesting.

I'm also interested in the sentence you quoted. There's been a couple of studies done in these here parts about "food deserts" i.e places where it's difficult to access fresh fruit and veg. And I can easily see how some people get sucked into the processed food thing. There are quite a few places here where there aren't shops selling fresh stuff - other than maybe potatoes and onions, yet there's easy access to processed foods and takeaways. It's a complex problem really. Even though the takeouts are more expensive than the equivalent taxi home from the supermarket and cooking from scratch, where there are areas of deprivation and low income you can find people suffering from many problems. And there's a kind of low expectation/low horizons mindset where healthy eating is so low on the priority list it's crazy!

Not that it's a soapbox issue of mine or anything...

The trouble is, even when there is a supermarket, people don't always buy what is healthy for them - you only have to look in people's trolleys. Loaves of white bread, huge packets of crisps, bottles of fizzy pop, frozen processed stuff (okay, so I buy fish fingers, and breaded fish, but it's not all I eat by any manner of means!).... You want to ask them, "Where's the cabbage, and the swede and the broccoli?" Okay, they might have bought that in the market, but.....

And even in Lidl, the discounters, which has wonderful fruit and veg - better, in many ways, than Tesco, because it's much more seasonal and much more local AND it's cheaper (and the garlic is a lot nicer), people stock up on processed stuff. (And those huge pork pies are reduced to £1 this week, and I practically had to physically restrain myself from buying one - we'll share one on Sunday as a treat, but I must not buy one before then, I must not, I must not, I must not.....).

I think a lot of the time people are unaware of exactly what 'healthy' means. There is a tendency for things to be branded as 'healthy' when in fact it is much better for you to cook a meal yourself full of lovely fresh produce.

If you 'have' to have a ready meal, then you are better off opting for a healthy option, however if people to opt for these on a frequent basis they probably feel like they are doing their body good.

It is a tough one, because I know that for many people time is an issue. But its better to get into a routine that allows you to make the most of fresh produce. And as for being unable to access fresh food, most large supermarkets offer delivery direct to your door. My grandmother does an online shop, and she always has fresh food at the ready. I shop in a supermarket, and my diet would probably considered to be fairly meditteranean - there really is fantastic veg available, and surely its fairly accessible.

Interesting article!