We need to care about the type of food we eat but often we don’t. There is a harsh but essential question that we should be asking ourself. Do our food choices slowly killing us? Food can be a boon or bane that is it can act as medicine or poison but the good point is that we have a choice. At the outset, heart and health problems begin with the poor food choices and lack of exercise. Inadequate time in their busy day to day schedule sometimes mislead people to take an easier route to fast or processed foods which are basically the culprits that are adding pounds of calories and taking people’s lives.
The word “processed” often is not so clear among the minds of people, so let me clarify what the word means. As most foods we consume are processed in some way. The fruits we eat like apples are cut from trees, ground beef have been ground in a machine etc and consumables like butter is cream that is separated from the milk and churned. But the difference usually lies in the kind of processing which includes either mechanical or chemical that is done. It is still a real food if it’s a single ingredient food with no chemicals added to it served either in a jar or grounded. However foods under the category “processed” include those that have been chemically processed and made solely from refined ingredients and artificial substances.
So, processed foods basically are “Complicated foods made up of fat, sugar and salt poison the organs.”
One single meal of processed foods can be damaging to our body, so what can happen to your insides over time can’t be imagined if consumed continuously. Processed foods contain artificial ingredients which include flavourants, preservatives, colorants and texturants which make them “hyper rewarding” and lead to overconsumption. Some people can literally become addicted to this stuff and completely lose control over their consumption. These foods are also high in sugar and fructose corn syrup, trans fats and processed vegetable oils and low in fibre content.
Some everyday foods include
- Potato Chips
They undergo deep frying cooking and during this process a carcinogen namely acrylamide may be created. This may lead to a heightened risk of cancer of colon , bladder , prostate and rectum. So, the next time before fulfilling your crispy greasy satisfaction through processed French fries or potato chips consider the thought of homemade potato chips.
- Refined and high glycemic index white carbohydrates
The foods which come under this category include are white pasta, white bread, pre packaged cookies, cakes, breakfast cereals. These refined carbs are rapidly broken down into simple sugars which are readily absorbed into the bloodstream, causing risky spikes in blood sugar levels. Most common chronic diseases have been tied to these types of (deliciously addictive) carbohydrates, therefore it is wise to keep them to a minimum.
- Artificial Sweetners
People nowadays are switching to artificial sweetners including acesulfame potassium, aspartame, neotame, saccharin, or sucralose which contain fewer calories. They have a heightened risk of high blood pressure, metabolic syndrome, Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Natural sweeteners like honey, maple syrup would be a better source to add a touch of sweetness.
- Canned Tomato Sauce
These can be called as sweetest culprits secretly contributing to increased rates of obesity, diabetes, coronary artery disease, and dental decay as they are high in sugar content. So, it is always preferable to top your pasta with freshly prepared homemade sauce with fresh tomatoes and herbs!!
- Bottled Salad Dressings
These are packed with sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and artificial colors But for a good fat healthy salad it is preferable to prepare it using few tablespoon of vinegar and extra virgin olive oil.
- Soda
It is high in sugar content, contain hearty doses of artificial food dyes and preservatives like BVO (brominated vegetable oil) that thereby affects blood glucose. So the next time whenever you are thirsty make yourself 100 percent fruit juice or pour a glass of water and to it add splash of lemon.
- Whole diary
These are jam packed with along with many saturated (or bad) fats with the bovine growth hormone which is engineered in lab to boost the milk production of cows. This is passed along to the humans in the form of childhood obesity, as well as certain cancers, chronic migraines, and rheumatoid arthiritis.
Skip the fast food and fill your refrigerator with easy, healthy choices like grilled chicken, hard boiled eggs, vegetables and pre-made meals. Simple, whole foods will not only turn your health around, they will prolong your life and heal your body. Thinking ahead and planning meals is well worth the effort. It is aptly said that “ If your food can go bad, it’s good for you. If it can’t go bad, it’s bad for you.”
If you don’t have time to eat wiser, make it, your life depends on it.
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