09/07/2026
For years, we’ve been told that cancer is largely about genetics or simply getting older.
Now we’re seeing something different.
Colon cancer is rising in younger adults who should, by all accounts, have decades ahead of them. Suddenly, the conversation has shifted. It’s no longer just about genetics. It’s about the environment we live in, what we eat, how we live, and the constant exposure to things our bodies were never designed to process.
I’ve written about this over the years and I’ll keep saying the same thing because I genuinely believe we’ve drifted too far from the basics.
Our bodies were designed to eat real food.
Whole food.
Food that comes from nature, not from a laboratory or a manufacturing line.
People often argue that our ancestors only ate meat. The truth is that regardless of which dietary philosophy you believe in, one thing remains consistent, they weren’t living on ultra processed foods, artificial flavourings, stabilisers, preservatives and ingredients that require a chemistry degree to understand.
Yesterday, I attended a cooking demonstration and I left feeling surprised.
Almost the entire demonstration revolved around processed ingredients. Everything was about convenience. Open a packet. Pour from a bottle. Mix a powder.
Convenience has become the priority.
But somewhere along the way, we’ve forgotten what food is supposed to be.
Trust me when I say this; we were a room full of F&B professionals watching a chef demonstrate an UNOX oven, yet most of what was being cooked came straight out of pre-packaged plastic. This isn’t a criticism of the chef. He was doing exactly what he was employed to do and demonstrating the products he was given. It simply made me reflect on how much our industry has come to rely on convenience over real, whole ingredients……but I must say this; If you’re a chef or a food business whose menu depends on ultra-processed ingredients because it’s easier, cheaper or faster, then perhaps it’s time to ask yourself why you got into this industry in the first place.
As food providers, we have a responsibility that goes beyond serving something that tastes good.
We are feeding people.
We’ve often been judged for preparing meals in advance.
In many Asian households, anything prepared and stored in the fridge is immediately labelled as “leftovers.” Yet those same people walk into restaurants believing every single dish is magically cooked from A to Z the moment they place their order. That’s being delusional 😅
That’s rarely how most commercial kitchens work.
Many businesses operate multiple brands using pre-made sauces, pre-mixed marinades, frozen components and ready-to-use ingredients. The customer never sees what happens behind the scenes.
Running a whole food kitchen is completely different.
It’s harder.
It’s messier.
It’s more labour intensive.
Every sauce starts with actual ingredients. Vegetables need to be cut. Proteins need to be prepared properly. Stocks take hours. Herbs need to be washed. There are no shortcuts hidden in packets.
The chaos behind a whole food kitchen is real, but so is the integrity.
At Pure Eats, we’ve always believed that meal prep isn’t the problem.
What you prep matters far more than when you prep it.
Preparing real food and storing it safely is not the same as relying on ultra processed convenience foods.
One nourishes the body.
The other simply feeds it.
Even people who dedicate enormous amounts of time and money to optimising their health remind us that there are limits. Bryan Johnson has become one of the world’s best-known biohackers, yet his own health journey has shown that no amount of testing, supplements or optimisation can guarantee perfect health.
To me, that’s an important reminder.
Health isn’t won by chasing every new hack.
It isn’t about taking dozens of supplements or trying to outsmart biology.
Sometimes the smartest thing we can do is go back to the basics.
Eat real food.
Move your body.
Sleep well.
Manage stress.
Spend time with people you love.
Our bodies are incredibly intelligent when we stop overwhelming them.
We don’t need to become machines.
Because at the end of the day, we’re only human.
Eat Pure.Live Pure.
P/s: The photo on your left is a real Pure Eats meal.The photo on your right is a generated poster to help explain the ingredients used and its simple yet essential benefits.
