What is Processed Food?

The term “processed food” stands for all foods that have undergone industrial processing to create the packaged products we see in the supermarket. Foods that have been changed significantly from their natural state with the use of very modern technology and chemicals to create a convenient ready to eat the product that can endure the supermarket shelf life.

The Processed food companies’ goal, just like any other company, is to make more money. All the processed food products come in attractive packaging, this is done to allure us, excite us & make us addictive to their products. Majority of the processed food products contain almost no or very less nutritional value & very high-calorie value. It is the convenience of processed food that attracts us to them & we fall in prey of the manufacturers of the processed food.

People are gaining weight most often because they are constantly in the processed food cycle. Food that doesn’t provide you with the needed nutrition might make you feel full but soon you will be hungry again because your body will be asking for nutrients.

The following are a few of the health effects of processed foods.

Obesity And Health Problems Bad effects of processed foods are one of the major cause of metabolic disorders. This is because the body processes natural food much differently from refined and processed foods.

Weak Bones The processed foods are prepared in such a way that it has a longer shelf life. There are many chemicals that are added to this, which will weaken the bones in the long run.

Digestive Problems One of the harmful effects of processed foods is its effect on the digestion process. This is because when foods are processed, natural fibres, vitamins and nutrients are stripped off

Top 9 Processed Food Responsible for Obesity.

Cereals: Cereals that are very high in sugar and are full of artificial colourings, preservatives and other processed carbohydrates are not good for your children’s breakfast even if they are marketed as “High in Vitamin D”.

Juices: Juices that are claimed to be “natural” just because they contain a bit of fruit juice are not healthy because they have tons of added sugar. Processed food is full of empty calories that provide you with no real nutrition.

Sugar: Sugar has the biggest role in this cycle. Sugar is in everything, not just in sweet products. Food producers have secretly been adding it to all sorts of products and they keep increasing it because it causes the strongest addiction and this addiction will be for life. The other problem is that sugar exists in so many different forms on the ingredients list, it’s hidden behind ingredients like corn syrup, glucose, dextrose and so, so many more.

Bacon: Bacon contains high levels of sodium, which can lead to high blood pressure. And sodium is just the beginning. Part of the reason why bacon is so delicious is that it’s loaded with saturated fat. Saturated fat is linked to heart disease and obesity. Danger also lurks in virtually all store-bought bacon because of how many preservatives it contains, which are related to every health concern from headaches to cancer.

Instant Noodles: A packet of ramen can contain nearly 2,000 milligrams (mg) of sodium, which is 500 mg more than the American Heart Association’s daily recommended intake. That boosts blood pressure, which could lead to stroke.

Additionally, with simple carbohydrates making up most of the other ingredients, ramen provides almost zero nutritional support. You should also check out the amount of fat in ramen noodles.

Fruit Snacks: An enemy of both your teeth and waistline, fruit snacks may be the grocer’s most inaccurately named food. Most varieties are packed with high fructose corn syrup and cane sugar — which could lead to weight gain, which can increase your risk for diabetes — and contain only a drop of actual fruit ingredients. Their extra sugar and gelatinous ingredients also stick to teeth, providing an ideal environment for bacteria to create cavities.

Ketchup: While a little dollop of ketchup is fine, the amounts we slather onto our burgers and fries is problematic, as is the frequency.

The tomatoes in ketchup are so diluted by sugar and salt that they offer no natural value. With most of the calories in ketchup coming from sugar, you might as well sprinkle your fries with sugar!

Frozen Dinners: Frozen dinners are the next best thing to takeout: a complete meal of vegetables, entrée, and starch, all on one plate, right out of the microwave.

However, frozen dinners are often loaded with sugars, fat, and sodium. Those additives can lead to weight and heart problems. They can also raise your blood pressure, putting you at danger for stroke.

Processed Meat: Processed meat has consistently been linked with harmful effects on health.
This is a fact that health-conscious people have been aware of for decades.

For this reason, eating high amounts of processed meat is more common among people with unhealthy lifestyle habits.

I hope the above mention information is useful for you.
If you have any query please get in touch with me.

Dietitian Vinita Jaiswal

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