About Us
We are a coalition of foundations, philanthropists, community organizations, researchers and individuals united in commitment to create a future free of preventable food-related disease.
We welcome all that wish to join us.
The Ultra-Processed Problem
Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are hyper-palatable, highly profitable food-like products made from modified food substances after multiple stages of industrial processing. These products are often ready-to-consume, low in micronutrients, and calorically dense.
UPFs are linked to endocrine disruption, carcinogen exposure, developmental issues, microplastic accumulation, and microbiome disruption.
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Linked to metabolic disorders and liver issues when consumed in excess.
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Bleached and stripped of nutrients, ultra-refined grains are quickly absorbed leading to blood sugar spikes and an increased insulin response.
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Formed when sugars react with proteins or fats at high temperatures. These compounds can increase inflammation and oxidative stress.
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Emulsifiers can disrupt the gut microbiome and lead to inflammation.
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Used as preservatives, can form potentially carcinogenic nitrosamines.
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Using chemical solvents like hexane to extract oil from seeds, high heat processing creates easily oxidized oils forming free radicals and toxic compounds like aldehydes. Partial hydrogenation can create trans fats.
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Created through hydrogenation of oils, linked to increased risk of heart disease and other health issues.
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Formed when starchy foods are cooked at high temperatures, potentially carcinogenic.
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Preservatives, colorants, and flavor enhancers have various negative health effects.
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Bisphenols, phthalates, and microplastics leach into food from packaging, can linings, and plastic containers.
The Result
BAD Economics. The U.S. ultra-processed food industry produces revenue of $2 trillion, yet ultimately costs society $3.2 trillion in healthcare and lost productivity - that we all pay for.
Our Mission
Advancing individual, family, community and societal wellbeing by ending food-related disease caused by ultra-processed foods.
The Science
The science is clear: ultra-processed foods are bad for the mind and body.
Click to watch our May 2024 Webinar and learn from leading scientists.
Insights
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“What happens in the brain is reflected in the gut, and what happens in the gut is reflected in the brain. This makes these events related to a diet… It affects the whole body.”
Dr. Emeran Mayer M.D.
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“…in nutritional psychiatry, there are several mechanisms that impact how the food we eat, really changes mood, increases anxiety, as well as several other conditions… one of those is inflammation. Another is oxidative stress…”
Dr. Uma Naidoo M.D.
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“We actually have data on causation for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, fatty liver disease, and tooth decay. We have correlation data for cancer and dementia… and the data are actually quite robust and strong.”
Dr. Robert Lustig M.D., M.S.L.
Next Roots Learning Series
November 20, 2024
10am - 11am (Pacific Time) | 1pm - 2pm (Eastern Time)
Dr. Christopher Palmer, MD
Dr. Christopher Palmer is a Harvard psychiatrist and researcher working at the interface of metabolism and mental health. He is the Founder and Director of the Metabolic and Mental Health Program and the Director of the Department of Postgraduate and Continuing Education at McLean Hospital and an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. For almost 30 years, he has held administrative, educational, research, and clinical roles in psychiatry at McLean and Harvard. He has been pioneering the use of the medical ketogenic diet in the treatment of psychiatric disorders—conducting research in this area, treating patients, writing, and speaking around the world on this topic. Most recently, he has proposed that mental disorders can be understood as metabolic disorders affecting the brain, which has received widespread recognition in both national and international media outlets.
Michael Goran is Professor and Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and Program Director for Nutrition and Obesity at The Saban Research Institute. He is a native of Glasgow, Scotland, and received his Ph.D. from the University of Manchester, UK. His research on infant and childhood nutrition has been continuously funded by the NIH for the past 35 years, raising $80m in funding, and publishing over 400 peer-reviewed articles. In 2021 he founded the Southern California Center for Latino Health, a regional initiative focused on developing academic-community solutions to chronic disease disparities in Latino families and funded by a $25m grant from the National Institute for Minority Health Disparities. He has received numerous awards including: The Nutrition Society Medal for Research (1996), The Lilly Award for Scientific Achievement from The Obesity Society (2006), the TOPS award for contributions to obesity research from The Obesity Society (2014), and the Rank Prize Lecture in Nutrition (2018). Michael lives in Silverlake, LA and likes to play tennis, cook, eat, hike, walk his dog and travel. He is the author of “Sugarproof: Protect Your Family from the Hidden Dangers of Excess Sugar with Simple Everyday Fixes”.
Dr. Michael Goran, PhD
The Plan
Serving as an organizing bridge, we enable foundations to participate in collective and coordinated action.
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Convene learning sessions for coalition stakeholders: foundations, philanthropists, community organizations, researchers and individuals.
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Recruit and convene stakeholders for collective action (aggregating power) and develop further funding, education, research, and outreach (advocacy) action plans.
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Engage legislative, executive and judiciary branches of government to eradicate ultra-processed food and causes of food-related disease.
Connect
We look forward to connecting with you.
