There is no such thing as "good" or "bad" foods per se. Marketing products labeled as "healthy" or "diet" (protein bars, meal replacements) are not systematically more virtuous or lower in calories than standard foods or simple indulgences; the key is balance and moderation in one's overall diet.

noli's read

The idea of prioritizing overall dietary quality rather than demonizing certain ingredients is validated by research, notably a large-scale meta-analysis published in The Lancet (GBD Diet Collaborators, 2019) which shows the major impact of overall dietary patterns on longevity. Regarding the glycemic index (GI) of watermelon or a confectionery item, a clinical study published in Cell (Zeevi et al., 2015) confirms that glycemic responses are highly individual, which makes the use of generic GI less relevant for optimizing daily vitality. The creator's nutritional comparisons are factually correct according to reference tables (such as the USDA FoodData Central database), proving that diet products are often overrated. However, equating ultra-processed products with whole foods under the pretext that their protein or fiber values are equivalent is reductionist. Large-scale observational studies, such as the NutriNet-Santé cohort published in the BMJ (Srour et al., 2019), remind us that regular consumption of highly processed products (donuts, nuggets) remains correlated with a decrease in general well-being, beyond the simple calorie equation.

the sources

1. 1Stewart TM, Williamson DA, White MA 2002
2. 2Neumark-Sztainer D et al. 2007
3. 3Chandon P, Wansink B 2007
4. 4Croker H, Packer J, Russell SJ, Stansfield C, Viner RM 2020