Apologies for the slightly meta/philosophical post.
We know Huel is “nutritionally complete” - and by that they mean “contains a balance of all 26 essential vitamins and minerals, protein, essential fats, carbs, fibre and phytonutrients in a single product”.
But is being “nutritionally complete” the same as being nutritionally optimal for human health?
We know certain types of diet, most famously the S.A.D (Standard American Diet), are associated with more health outcomes - cardiovascular disease, obesity, high blood pressure, cancers etc.
The S.A.D is renowned for generally being highly processed. Huel is also highly processed.
What stops someone who say consumes 100% Huel, not having negative health outcomes as a result of their nutrition, compared to someone who eats 100% S.A.D?
What are the main differences in these two highly processed foods?
- Huel is low GI versus S.A.D meals typically being high GI
- Huel doesn’t contain added sugar, most S.A.D meals do
- Huel is nutritionally complete, most S.A.D meals are not
- Huel has generally lower saturated fats than S.A.D meals
So which is the most important factor, or is it a combination of all four? What is it that means highly processed Huel is good for you, whereas a highly processed frozen pizza/microwave cheeseburger/birthday cake etc isn’t?
Then we have to consider macros…
The S.A.D is typically high carb, high fat, medium to high protein.
Huel is 37/30/30 in terms of Carbs/Fat/Protein, so simialr to the S.A.D
Lots of studies out there that suggest either high carb/low fat or low carb/high fat is optimal, but a balanced macro diet is too similar to the S.A.D. What makes Huel better, even with Huel’s macros being similar to an average S.A.D food? Some say seed oils are bad, yet Huel contains them.
Is it having a Low GI number?
Having zero added sugar?
Not eating animal products and therefore eating less cholesterol?
I’ve kinda gone off on a tangent here. I suppse I’m really just asking, aside from the extra vitamins/minerals etc, what makes Huel “healthy”?
I know in relative terms that Huel having more vitamins and minerals, no added sugar etc makes it “healthier” than S.A.D - but doesn’t necessarily mean Huel is inherently healthy.