HOW WE SCORE THE IMPACT OF FOOD ON CHRONIC DISEASES

Food is our most effective and accessible medicine. What we eat daily can either improve our health and accelerate our healing or add to internal inflammation and physical damage that can lead to chronic disease and premature aging and death.

Tera is scoring food products based on their potential impact on worsening your existing chronic diseases such as Cholesterol, Hypertension (high blood pressure), Heart Disease, Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity.

If you have one or several of these diseases, select them as preferences. These are stringent and restrictive scoring formulas. You can also select these preferences to protect you from foods that may cause these diseases.

Once your chronic diseases preferences have been selected, Tera is identifying the foods that you should avoid and recommending foods that you should eat.

Why does this matter?

60 % of calorie intake for US adults comes from ultra-processed foods (66% for US children).

These processed food products deliver potent combinations of fat, sugar, sodium, and artificial flavors. They are what scientists call hyper-palatable: Irresistible, and capable of hijacking the brain’s reward system and provoking powerful cravings i.e. become addictive. Their manufacturing process creates new compounds like carcinogens.

People who eat a lot of ultra-processed foods have a 19 percent higher likelihood of early death and a 32 percent higher risk of dying from heart disease compared with people who eat few ultra-processed foods.

78 percent of healthcare expenditures are for the treatment of chronic diseases (diabetes 2, cancer, obesity, heart disease, hypertension, stroke …) and many researchers now believe that these problems are partly related to our diet.

68% of processed foods sold in US grocery stores have added sugar. Manufacturers use 100+ different ingredient names to mask the addition of sugar. Medical evidence shows that high sugar consumption is linked to obesity, diabetes, and tooth decay.

Over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates have tripled in the U.S., and today, the country has some of the highest obesity rates in the world: one out of six children is obese, and one out of three children is overweight or obese.

CHOLESTEROL

What is it?

Cholesterol is a vital compound in the body and plays a pivotal role in various bodily functions. However, maintaining a healthy balance is key, as high levels of cholesterol, particularly low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, can lead to plaque buildup in arteries, increasing the risk of heart disease and other cardiovascular issues.

Why is it important?

Whether you already have high cholesterol or are interested in keeping yours from elevating, choosing the cholesterol preference in the Tera App will help you take proactive steps towards managing your well-being. This preference focuses on foods low in cholesterol, and also low in saturated fat and added sugar, both of which are also highly associated with elevated cholesterol levels. 

This trifecta of nutritional guidance empowers you to make choices that support heart health and overall vitality. 

HEART DISEASE

What is it?

Heart disease is one of the leading causes of morbidity for men and women in the USA and globally, and is a health condition strongly improved and managed through dietary choices. 

Why is it important?

Whether you have heart disease or want to avoid it, this heart-conscious preference will empower you to take the extra steps needed to improve your cardiovascular well-being by focusing on key factors that contribute to heart disease risk.

By selecting the heart disease preference in the Tera App, you're proactively reducing saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, and added sugar in your diet – all crucial components in managing heart health. Saturated fats and dietary cholesterol can raise LDL cholesterol levels, contributing to arterial plaque buildup, while excessive sodium intake can elevate blood pressure. Additionally, added sugars have been linked to inflammation and other factors that can increase the risk of heart disease.

HYPERTENSION

What is it?

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a significant health concern with potential far-reaching consequences. 

Why is it important?

Through this preference, each food recommendation is ranked to support your journey towards better blood pressure control, whether you currently have high blood pressure or not.

By choosing the hypertension preference in the Tera App, you're proactively taking steps to lower saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, and added sugar in your diet – all of which play crucial roles in influencing blood pressure levels. High intake of saturated fats and cholesterol can contribute to plaque buildup in arteries, narrowing blood vessels and increasing blood pressure. Excessive sodium consumption can lead to fluid retention and elevated blood pressure. Added sugars, on the other hand, can contribute to weight gain and insulin resistance, both of which are associated with hypertension.

TYPE 2 DIABETES

What is it?

Type 2 Diabetes, a chronic condition affecting 40 million Americans, with almost another 100 million Americans 18 and above having pre diabetes, calls for mindful dietary choices to regulate blood sugar levels and promote overall well-being. Our app's diabetes-friendly preference is designed to empower you in making informed nutritional decisions that directly address the factors influencing blood sugar control.

Why is it important?

By using this preference, each food recommendation is ranked to support your journey towards better blood sugar control and overall health, whether you already have type 2 diabetes, have pre diabetes or not.

By selecting the Type 2 Diabetes preference in the Tera App, you're taking proactive steps to lower saturated fat, control carbohydrate intake within recommended ranges, and reduce added sugar consumption – all of which play vital roles in managing blood sugar levels. High saturated fat intake can lead to insulin resistance, exacerbating diabetes. Controlling carbohydrate intake helps prevent rapid spikes in blood sugar, while minimizing added sugars aids in weight management and stable blood sugar levels. Additionally, our preference emphasizes increasing dietary fiber, which helps slow digestion, improve blood sugar control, and promote a feeling of fullness.

OBESITY

What is it?

Being overweight or obese can pose complex health issues and require a multifaceted approach to achieve sustainable weight management. Tera’s obesity preference is meticulously crafted to empower you in making mindful dietary decisions that directly address the factors contributing to excess weight.

Why is it important?

By using this preference in the Tera App, each food recommendation is thoughtfully ranked to support your journey towards healthier weight control and overall well-being, whether you are overweight or not.

By opting for the Obesity preference, you're taking proactive measures to reduce saturated fat, lower overall carbohydrate intake, and minimize added sugar consumption – all of which are essential in achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. Saturated fats can contribute to weight gain and hinder overall metabolism, while controlling carbohydrate intake helps regulate blood sugar levels and prevent overconsumption. Reducing added sugars can aid in curbing excess calorie intake. This preference will also emphasize foods with dietary fiber, a necessary nutrient in promoting satiety, aiding digestion, and supporting weight loss.

However, we are not perfect.  Product information can sometimes be incomplete or change.   So PLEASE ALWAYS double-check the ingredient labels, and contact the manufacturer for more information if needed. If you believe we have incorrectly listed a certification for a product please let us know so we can correct it for the Tera community. 

We continue to refine and improve our methodology as we add products, ingredients, and new brands to your marketplace.  Feel free to contact us for corrections, suggestions, or additional feedback.

For more information on the impact of processed food on your health check out our blog articles below:

Food in America: A Looming Health Crisis 

Unveiling the Truth About Processed Foods (Part 1) 

Unveiling the Truth About Processed Foods (Part 2) 

The World of Conventional Agriculture 

How the sugar industry hijacked science and convinced us that fat was the enemy