A surprising policy shift from Washington encouraging Americans to abandon ultra-processed foods is mirroring the work of a UK based GP. His patients are successfully reversing type 2 diabetes through dietary changes.
You might be taken aback to learn that something positive has emerged from the present US administration. The intriguing revelation was made by Robert F Kennedy, the US Health Secretary, alternately labeled as a maverick. Early this year, RFK announced new dietary guidelines with the straightforward message: ‘eat real food.’ The recommendation encourages Americans to transition from heavily processed, sugar-rich, additive-packed meals to more “whole, nutrient-dense” options like vegetables, fruits, dairy, protein, healthy fats, and whole grains. Surprisingly, the notorious figure is pushing back against America’s junk food culture.
The new approach has its skeptics. Some cardiologists are cautious about the endorsement of full-fat meat and dairy, popular neither with vegetarians nor environmentalists. Others warn against the idealization of older dietary patterns, which overlooks the health issues linked to mid-20th-century eating habits.
However, many are welcoming the rejection of the ‘obesogenic’ diets plaguing the Western world for years. Dr. David Unwin, a UK based GP, is one of the key advocates for overcoming type 2 diabetes and other chronic health issues through significant dietary changes—specifically, reducing sugary carbs and processed food. Speaking at the recent Sustainable Foods Summit in London, Unwin wholeheartedly endorsed the new US guidelines. He revealed that the dietary advice being promoted was similar to what he’d been recommending to his patients for over a decade.
As a GP in a working-class neighborhood of Liverpool, Unwin has been combatting the rise of type 2 diabetes throughout his career. When he started in 1986, only 56 patients had the condition. Today, the figure is approximately 570. This rise echoes the nationwide trend in the UK, where diabetes rates have risen dramatically in tandem with diets heavily dominated by ultra-processed food.
Unwin, a type 2 diabetes patient himself, once relied mainly on medication to manage the disease. However, one of his patients, who made massive changes to her eating habits, spearheaded a shift from drugs to diet. Tests indicated that the woman’s condition had significantly improved after adopting a low-carb, low-sugar diet. This strategy was then implemented on a control group of 275 patients with type 2 diabetes, achieving similar results. As of this year, 150 of Unwin’s patients have gone into remission, no longer needing medication and enjoying much-improved health.
There’s a common misconception that healthy diets are inaccessible for low-income individuals. Unwin counters that by eliminating sugary snacks, carbonated drinks, and heavily processed foods, many find their weekly grocery bills decrease. His BBC documentary ‘The Truth About Carbs’ shows people preparing simple, affordable meals.
Medication still plays a part in managing diabetes. GLP-1 drugs have significantly advanced diabetes treatment. However, doctors acknowledge that weight regain is typical if treatment ceases, and the long-term effects of widespread use are still under research.
The experiences of Unwin and his patients serve as a vital reminder—we indeed are what we eat. If the new US dietary guidelines—eerily similar to Unwin’s recommendations—can incite this realization amongst more Americans, they will indeed be a surprising silver lining from Washington.
