Bad effects of processed foods: unveiling the consequence

In this hasty and nasty world and busy lifestyle, people desire faster and more convenient options for their daily needs, including their foods, and that is highly processed foods on the go.

Consequently, our innovative minds have developed a variety of processed foods that cater to this demand for quick and effortless meals.

But it is a thoughtful thing that people use to ignore the harmful effects of processed food on individuals' health.

While human creativity has undoubtedly led to numerous inventions that enhance the quality of life, what about inventions that are made of food, is it good for your health?

And this is why, we are going to study the harmful effects of processed food on human health.

Table of Contents

Processed foods

What is processed food?

Processed food can be defined as raw food that undergoes various physical and chemical processes such as cleaning, freezing, canning, and baking. 

This processing is done to increase the shelf life of the food items.

Example: Beetroot is a type of fruit grinding and making its juice at home is a minimal nutritional process.

But, preserving beetroot juice by adding chemical compounds and increasing its shelf life through canning can significantly reduce its nutritional value. Therefore, it can be classified as highly processed food.

Many brands and marketing agencies advertise processed food in the form of snacks and other food items.

Unfortunately, many individuals consume these products eagerly, often influenced by advertising campaigns across various platforms, including television. 

But, do we take out some time to understand the adverse effects of processed food on our health?

Regrettably, we often prioritize our health only when we fall ill, incorporating healthy eating habits solely to promote better health and decrease the chances of falling sick. 

If we can shift our thought processes to prioritize our well-being and dietary habits proactively, we can avoid falling sick altogether.

Categories and examples of processed food:

The categories of processed food are divided into Nova groups, which is a standard classification for the industrial purpose of processing food items, and beverages and determining their nutritional values.

Nova Group 1	This group includes foods that are minimally processed or unprocessed, which means that they have undergone basic cleaning and preparation without altering their natural form, making them ready to eat.   Ex: Fruits, Vegetable, Eggs, etc.
Nova Group 2	In this category, food that has gone through simple processing is used in everyday home cooking.   Ex: Salt, Sugar, Honey, Vegetable oil, Butter, vinegar, etc.
Nova Group 3	This food can be categorized as food that gets canned to increase its shelf life and also improve its taste.   Ex: canned fruits and veggies, preserved pickles and syrups, etc.
Nova Group 4	In this type, processed foods are ultra-processed for an increase in shelf life. And use of chemicals generally more than any other type.   Ex: Hydrolyzed proteins, whey, and gluten, isolated soya proteins, high fructose syrup, etc.

 

Effects of processed food on health (Nova Group 3 & 4):

There are many side effects associated with consuming processed foods belonging to the Nova group 3 and 4. 

This is because they undergo extensive processing in manufacturing plants, which can lead to a reduction in their nutritional value.

As a result, consumption of such food can lead to disease and sickness by lowering the type of nutrients you require to be healthy.

Adding to it, some types of ultra-processed foods can lead you to sickness, and serious health issues like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.

Processed foods

Diseases caused by processed foods:

Researchers have shown that some types of ultra-processed food are reasons for developing cancers in the human body.

Then extra energy produced gets stored in the form of fats in our body. If that energy does not get utilized it is stored in the form of excessive fats which get absorbed by your liver directly. that sugar is named fructose and sucrose.

Which has a direct link to diseases like fatty liver, diabetes, various heart and cardiovascular diseases.

Furthermore, ultra-processed foods have very low fiber content, which manufacturers intentionally reduce to increase their shelf life.

When we eat continuously low-fiber foods, it can lead to un-wellness of the colon and intestine and also disturbs your gut health.

The high amount of saturated fats, sugar, and sodium content in it makes it unhealthy and increases the risk of obesity, serious chronic diseases, and hypertension.

Which are the Ultra-Processed foods you should strictly avoid?

Sausages.                    Salami.

Sugary cereals.            Bacon.

Unhealthy fast food.     Sugary beverages and drinks.

Instant Ramen.            Salty chips and cookies.

All the items mentioned above are high in sodium, sugar, and preservatives while having very low nutritional value. 

That is why it is more important to avoid processed foods for your better health.

How to swap nutritional foods with processed food?

It is really very important to understand the nutritious values of food and its importance for gut health.

In the old era, people used to be healthier. Why is it so? Because of their quality of food and nutritious diet and also incredible good habits.

They consumed mostly raw and minimally processed food, which provided all the necessary nutrients, as they were aware of their nutritional significance.

Here are some of the best alternatives for you to avoid processed foods:-

Instead of junk food, try incorporating more fruits and salads into your diet. Think positively about this change and remember that you are what you eat.

Avoid salty chips and snacks, and instead opt for roasted nuts and dried fruits.

Always strive to learn about nutritional foods and encourage yourself to make healthier choices.

When you have a craving for junk food, try satisfying it with raw fruit juices that will fill you up and provide essential nutrients.

Healthy food items

By implementing these changes, you can improve your diet and overall health.

In the bottom line:

We have to understand that we need to be more mindful of our diet and have to add nutritious values to it. as processed foods have bad effects on our health. And has many serious consequences in the long term, hence to navigate your life towards a better and healthier future drop down processed food and turn towards healthy and minimally processed foods.