The Health Effects of Processed Foods
Why is processed food bad for you?
Lack of Nutrients
When going to a supermarket, many foods are in bags, boxes, cans, and cartons. Most of these foods are considered processed foods. Processed foods are foods that have been altered from their natural states in order to extend their shelf life. To get a longer shelf life, these foods go through excessive heating and cooling processes which causes nutrient depletion. Because processed foods have been altered for longer shelf life, these foods lose their natural flavors too. These poor quality and, often, cheap foods are considered empty calories, calories that come with few or no nutrients for your body. The ingredients in processed foods are known to cause today’s chronic diseases such as obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
When going to a supermarket, many foods are in bags, boxes, cans, and cartons. Most of these foods are considered processed foods. Processed foods are foods that have been altered from their natural states in order to extend their shelf life. To get a longer shelf life, these foods go through excessive heating and cooling processes which causes nutrient depletion. Because processed foods have been altered for longer shelf life, these foods lose their natural flavors too. These poor quality and, often, cheap foods are considered empty calories, calories that come with few or no nutrients for your body. The ingredients in processed foods are known to cause today’s chronic diseases such as obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
Chemical Additives
The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) keeps a list containing more than 3,000 chemicals added to processed food to add color, add taste, preserve, and thicken these foods. Since processed foods have been rid of flavor, companies use a variety of substances to add flavor back to these foods. There a many addictive ingredients found in processed foods. Trans-fat is known to be one of the most commonly used ingredients in processed foods. This ingredient is known to raise bad cholesterol, LDL cholesterol which is associated with heart disease, while lowering good cholesterol also known as HDL cholesterol. Another common, addictive ingredient found in processed food is high fructose syrup which is linked to obesity and diabetes. While sugar is burned and converted into energy, high fructose corn syrup is converted into fat. Nitrates are commonly found in processed meats like hot dogs, baloney, and salami. Nitrates give these processed meats their pink colored. Although these chemicals are used to prevent bacteria growth, they are also known to cause cancer. Food coloring agents, which give processed foods their appealing look, are also known to cause cancer. Another commonly used preservative called BHT has been found to cause stomach tumors. After these foods have been blanched, heated, freeze, and manipulated to have flavor, these processed “foods” should not even be considered food. Schools and people should think twice before serving processed foods to their kids.
The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) keeps a list containing more than 3,000 chemicals added to processed food to add color, add taste, preserve, and thicken these foods. Since processed foods have been rid of flavor, companies use a variety of substances to add flavor back to these foods. There a many addictive ingredients found in processed foods. Trans-fat is known to be one of the most commonly used ingredients in processed foods. This ingredient is known to raise bad cholesterol, LDL cholesterol which is associated with heart disease, while lowering good cholesterol also known as HDL cholesterol. Another common, addictive ingredient found in processed food is high fructose syrup which is linked to obesity and diabetes. While sugar is burned and converted into energy, high fructose corn syrup is converted into fat. Nitrates are commonly found in processed meats like hot dogs, baloney, and salami. Nitrates give these processed meats their pink colored. Although these chemicals are used to prevent bacteria growth, they are also known to cause cancer. Food coloring agents, which give processed foods their appealing look, are also known to cause cancer. Another commonly used preservative called BHT has been found to cause stomach tumors. After these foods have been blanched, heated, freeze, and manipulated to have flavor, these processed “foods” should not even be considered food. Schools and people should think twice before serving processed foods to their kids.
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