Processed food has been around for quite some time. Consciously or unconsciously consume processed food every day of our lives. It can be anything in the form your milk, the bread you eat, cakes, instant noodles; the list is endless. Processing can be as simple as chopped vegetables stuffed in a bag or as complex as adding preservatives, food coloring and spices to enhance the taste or to make it more accessible over a long period.
There is a lot of debate out there on whether processed food is good or bad for your health, we are here to shed some light on the positives and negatives that processed food has on your health.
Here are the positives�of Processed Food.
Convenience
For those people that live on a very tight schedule processed foods and don�t have the time to constantly shop for groceries, processed food is probably the way to go for them. Canned or packaged food can be instantly prepared in a few minutes as opposed to cooking an entire meal with fresh ingredients which can take up to hours. Processed foods are also similarly priced as organic food and fresh foods making them the easier option of the two. They are also readily available in nearby stores and unlike certain foods, which are only available in certain times of the year, processed foods are available throughout the year.
Essential Nutrients
This may be debatable, but canned or frozen food contains the same amount of nutrients, if not more, like the fresh produce. In fact, some products even contain added nutrients that aren�t available in the fresher products. But, do avoid processed foods that contain huge amounts of added sugar or syrup as they are less nutritious. Food with whole grains listed as ingredients are good for you as they have enough dietary fiber and nutrients to support your daily needs.Longevity or Shelf-life
There are a lot of people who constantly have to throw away unused food. If you find yourself throwing away food all the time then processed food might just be for you. Processed food contain plenty of preservatives that prolong its shelf-life and since it is packaged it is easier to store and preserve. Hence, those long expiry dates. Foods like frozen meat or vegetables last for a long time and are almost as healthy as fresh ones since they don�t lose essential vitamins and minerals required by the body.Taste
To give processed food its appearance longevity, a lot of preservatives are added and it is no secret that almost all processed food has some form of added flavor. It can be salt, artificial sweeteners, herbs, food coloring, etc. Regardless, these added flavors can highly enhance the taste and the visual appearance of processed foods. Some may even argue that it tastes better than freshly prepared food of the same kind. Most canned or frozen food are also prepared at a time when they are the most ripe. So what you get in your package is the food at its peak. You�ve read the benefits now let�s have a look at the downsides of processed food.Quality
Processed food lacks the quality of freshly prepared food. Processed food is not nearly as visually appealing and lacks the aesthetics like its counterpart. The taste between freshly produced food and processed food is very different too. What makes the processed food lack in quality is the ingredients used are from different sources and the quality of these ingredients is certainly not as good. Processed food manufacturers are likely to use cheap ingredients to minimize cost and maximize profit. Another issue with the quality of processed food is the way they are prepared. Unlike freshly made food, processed foods are prepared behind closed doors.
Fewer Nutrients
Earlier we mentioned that processed food contains minerals and vitamins that are needed for our body. While this is true to some extent, a lot of other important nutrients that are needed for the body are lost in the process. Processed food do contain nutrients that are required for , but they aren�t enough to sustain or meet the required amount that is needed for a healthy body. Processed food loses its nutritional value a lot quicker than the freshly produced stuff.Additives
Sugar, salt, preservatives, artificial flavoring, food coloring are added in almost every processed food to make them taste the way they do. While they add some flavor to the food, they provide little to nothing in terms of nutritional value. In fact, high doses of these additives can even lead to serious health complications like diabetes, cancer, etc. It is recommended that you consume these additives as little as possible to avoid any health related problems in the future. A lot of fats too are added to processed food which is hard for the body to digest. Consuming these fats, especially Trans fat and saturated fats can result in a high cholesterol levels and obesity. If you�ve noticed, processed food also leaves you feeling full for a longer period compared to freshly prepared food. The reason behind this is that the fats present in processed food takes a lot of time for our body to digest.
Other Harmful Effects of Processed Food
Processed food contains a lot of sodium to prevent the food from turning bad. High amount of sodium consumption from increases the risk of heart diseases. Processed foods also make them body retain more calories than it has too making the body a host for unwanted weight gain. Bacteria and other germs persist in all forms of food products, fresh or processed. It is highly likely that processed food contains a fairly larger amount of bacteria than fresh produce. A single ingredient can contaminate an entire batch of processed food if the ingredients are not carefully selected. Be sure to buy processed food that has some form of hygiene or health certifications. Everyone likes to enjoy a good meal. Processed or fresh food is a matter of choice to a person if not anything more. Whether you indulge in processed food regularly or enjoy the occasional treat, we recommend that you watch what you put inside your body. The topic of processed food is certainly arguable; it ultimately is up to the consumer to decide whether it is good or bad.Article prepared using various sources
