HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH PROCESSED FOODS AND THEIR ALTERNATIVES

Processed foods are majorly responsible for our declining collective health state that we see today.

They are also responsible for increasing the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. This blog post will explain some of the health risks associated with processed foods and their alternatives–natural foods–that you can choose to eat instead!

1) What Are Processed Foods?

Processed foods are any food that has been altered in some way. It can be for flavor, texture, or appearance to extend the shelf life and marketability of the food product. The most common methods used to alter these processed foods include cooking and refining. Food processing often involves adding sugar, flavoring chemicals like MSG (monosodium glutamate), preservatives including BHA and BHT (butylated hydroxyanisole and butylated hydroxytoluene).

Processed foods typically have higher levels of saturated fat than natural whole foods. However, it’s important to remember that not all fats are bad (healthy fats are found in salmon, tuna, walnut, etc.).

Due to higher preservatives and synthetic content in them, processed foods are harmful to a healthy body.

2) Examples of some processed foods?

The most well-known processed foods are readymade salads, bagged salad mixes, and canned goods. These items have been cooked or refined with chemicals to make them more presentable for sale on the shelves.

Some common examples of other processed food include white flour, sweetened drinks like soda pop and juice (these often contain high levels of added sugar to add flavor), muffins, pies, pastries. In addition to preservatives and synthetic content found in all types of processed foods, some process foods also use artificial colors such as FD&C Blue Number one (a known carcinogen), which is used in blueberry pie filling.

Processed food can be considered a detriment because it introduces harmful substances into our otherwise natural diet chain.

3) Health risks associated with love of Processed Foods

Consuming too much processed consumables can have long-lasting health effects on the body. An example of this is rampant obesity and the health risks associated with it. Not only that, but the majority of processed foods are high in preservatives and other artificial ingredients, but processed foods have also been linked to Autism Spectrum disorder. That is alarming.

Here are some other health risks associated with overeating sugary & fatty preserved foods;

• Cardiac Diseases
• Cancer
• Lethargy
• Dopamine addiction

Besides, these packaged preserved food items provide much less nutritional value to the consumer.

4) What are the alternatives to processed foods?

One great thing about eating is choice – and you can always make the right one now. Here are some alternatives to everyday processed foods;

• Fresh produce
• Organic poultry, eggs & dairy products
• Grass-fed beef or wild game from a local store or farm
• Homegrown vegetables (bought at farmer’s market)
• Fish that is locally caught by people fishing their entire lives with sustainable fishing methods such as farmed fish and shrimp.

These types of fish don’t require any additional chemicals like antibiotics for processing purposes because they can be naturally processed through salting after catching them.

So, next time when you head for that online grocery store or neighborhood superstore, take a snapshot of this list and checkout with healthier food items.

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Love & light