The 5 food lessons I live by as a doctor

On BBC’s Con or Cure, Dr Xand Van Tulleken investigates popular health-related claims with journalist Ashley John-Baptiste.

“One of the things I love most about Con or Cure is, we start to see patterns emerge in health myths,” says Xand.

“With consumer health products, you start to spot the price point, the claims, the targeting, the subscription model… They all have similar characteristics even if they seem different.”

On the show Xand is often surprised by the science (or lack of it) behind widely accepted health myths.

And there are plenty of myths (and emotions) surrounding ultra-processed foods (UPFs).

From marketing claims about how nutritious they can be, to the guilt felt by shoppers when they buy them.

For Xand, it was following the science that turned him away from a diet that was high in UPFs.

Here are five truths that have changed how he eats and thinks about food.