Processed foods remain a complicated realm to navigate for consumers. Many believe that processed foods are bad, contributing harmful effects to their health. Some blame processed foods for the surge in obesity and rise in non-communicable diseases like Type 2 Diabetes and heart disease. The article “Processed Food: What’s Ok and What to Avoid” suggests that it is not black and white when labeling processed foods as harmful—and that it is possible to incorporate some processed foods into a balanced diet. This statement is true for many reasons. Food processing methods include washing, drying, freezing, canning, and even packaging for convenience. Triple-washed and ready-to-eat bagged lettuce is processed. These foods provide access to nutrient-dense nourishments that otherwise might be unavailable in certain areas or during certain times of the year. …show more content…
As soon as a food is chopped, diced, or cooked, it is considered processed. While there is not a standardized definition of “processed food,” it simply means that we are somehow modifying a food from its original form. The part that adds confusion is that there are degrees to the level at which a food is processed and can affect one’s health. Only recently have researchers determined the need to define those levels. Defining the levels of processing will help guide researchers in determining which foods may be posing an increased risk to predisposing consumers to conditions such as obesity, high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. In 2016, the NOVA classification system set out to categorize processed food into four groups: unprocessed or minimally processed (group 1), processed culinary ingredients (group 2), processed foods (group 3), and ultra-processed food and drink products (group 4) (Monteiro et al.,
When we say processed food what does this really mean? The food industry has changed the way food is being made today. This concept of natural and healthy food simply does not exist. Today, food is mass produced, genetically altered to grown faster, bigger and in a lot less time. We all know that vegetables grow in the soil, thi...
This can be due to people like celebrities or nutritionists that are advertising single nutrients like Vitamin C tablets that will make people healthier, which is allowing the food industry to take the promotion of these single nutrients, and advertise to the people that just don’t know. This benefits the food industry by being able to take advantage of people by selling them products that will be “healthier” but not so much due to the amount processing. An author named David Freedman wrote an opposing article titled “How Junk Food can end Obesity”. Simply, we can see the already conflicting views between the two authors, however, Pollan has the more realistic view than Freedman that processed foods can cause more adverse health effect due to low income as
The problematic aspect of processed food is all the added hormones, preservatives, and antibiotics that are injected into the food. Organic foods have none of these additives, and the pure characteristic of organic food is a valuable thing. Pollan (2008) agrees with this when he writes, “instead of worrying about nutrients, we should simply avoid any food that has been processed to such an extent that it is more the product of industry than of nature” (p. 424). I have a medical condition in which I am not supposed to eat any foods that have added preservatives, hormones, or antibiotics. This is because my body is hypersensitive to chemicals and, especially, added hormones. It can easily cause serious health problems. Pollan (2008) also added an opinion made by a food politics and policy lecturer, Gyorgy Scrinis, who believes that, “the most important fact about any food is not its nutrient content but its degree of processing” (p. 423). If everyone would stop their constant consideration in nutrient content and turn their attention to additives; America could become a much healthier
Why are the chronic diseases and obesity rates of America rising? Supposedly, we have a great control of what goes in our foods. We can pick what to exclude or include in our foods and in addition, create or alter compounds from foods. Because of that, what was supposedly created to alleviate the obesity issue actually worsened it. “How?” you may ask. Unlike other aspects in science, the data was the problem. The data was unreliable and inconsistent due to the poorly conducted studies (Pollan, "Unhappy Meals"). The debate between Michael Pollan, the author of “Unhappy Meals” and a lover of whole foods, and David H. Freedman, the author of “How Junk Food Can End Obesity,” raises the question whether processed foods or whole foods are the solution to obesity. Pollan
This book addresses the public health topic of big food in the US. Salt, sugar fat found in processed foods and excess calories are major contributors to the obesity epidemic in the US. Currently,
The article that I read on “Processed Foods: What’s OK, What to Avoid” say “It’s blamed for our nation’s obesity epidemic, high blood pressure and the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes.” (Jill Kohn, 2015) It also says that it is surprising to “learn that whole-wheat, homemade soup a chopped apple are also processed foods.” (Jill Kohn, 2015) Even some of the conveniences we have could be considered processed like our bagged spinach or even the roast nuts. The conveniences that are not so good are like canned fruits, vegetables, because of the sugar or sodium that is in them.
In recent studies, it was discovered that most of the foods that Americans consumed are foods which had gone through so many processes and thereby losing most of its nutritional values. Unhealthy nutrients are also been added to foods as additive during production to either preserve flavor or enhance its taste and appearance. An individual cannot simply trust what he or she is consuming at a fast food restaurant or even a cheap prepared meal at a grocery store. Processed food or western diet needs to be replaced and totally taken out of the American life and diet; this will help the Americans to live a healthier life, and spend less on medical bills.
it can be very hard for those depending on assistance programs to incorporate healthier, whole, and unprocessed food into their diets. For many that have relied on this assistance for years it is a matter of an incorrect assumption. There is a postulation that processed foods are cheaper and more filling alternatives to healthy food. One study recently quoted in “Fruits, Vegetables Cheaper than Unhealthy Snacks” compared...
First of all, some may protest that processed foods are much cheaper than whole foods, so buying processed foods is a much more affordable option than buying whole foods. However, processed foods have hidden costs; while eating a bag of chips may seem like a smart, economical option economical now, in the long run, eating processed foods leads to disease and higher exorbitant medical bills; on average, obese men and women annually spend $1,152 and $3,613, respectively, more on medical bills than a non-obese men and women. (Begley) Furthermore, even at the check-out line in the grocery store, whole foods like fruits, vegetables, grains, and meat don’t have to exceed anyone’s budget; in fact, whole foods tend to be cheaper than processed foods. In the matter of fruits and vegetables the United States Department of Agriculture discovered in 2008 that the recommended vegetable and fruit consumption could be bought at $2 to $2.50 per person a day. With regards to whole grains, whole foods tend to be cheaper than processed ones. A quick search on ShopFoodEx, a online grocery store, showed that the unprocessed, Mahatma Brown Rice was seven cents cheaper per ounce than the processed, Minute Instant White Rice. Secondly, some may argue that processed foods are much easier to prepare than whole foods. However, with some practice, whole foods can easily be prepared in little time. Omelettes, organic yogurt with berries, grilled chicken, and salad are all examples of whole foods that, with a little know-how, can be prepared in ten minutes or less. Crock-pot dishes, soups, and many more recipes can be made in large quantities and frozen so as to reduce preparation time on busy days when a quick, easy lunch is necessary. In my life, I’ve found that throwing a chicken breast, some vegetables, and spices into a crockpot makes a easy delicious meal that has leftovers for many days. Whole foods don’t have to take
Is it really possible to be well-fed and starving at the same time? Astoundingly, the answer
Processed foods are in everybody’s lives, but are they safe? Processed foods are foods that are in boxes, cans, or bags usually containing artificial colors, flavors, and other chemical ingredients that most people can’t pronounce or recognize (SFGate). Processed Foods may taste good but can have terrible side effects. Most people don’t see the harmful effects of processed foods. Processed foods should not be eaten.
Food has been a common source of necessity in our everyday lives as humans. It helps gives us nutrition and energy to live throughout our life. Over several decades, the development of making foods has evolved. They have changed from natural to processed foods in recent years. Nowadays natural ingredients are barely used in the making of foods like bread, cheese, or yogurt. The food industry today has replaced natural food making with inorganic ingredients. The cause of this switch is due to processed foods being easier, cheaper and faster to make. Artificial nutrition and processed foods have been proven to last longer in market shelves then natural foods. Also, due to artificial additives in processed foods they help satisfy consumers taste more than natural ingredients. The method of producing processed foods is common in today's food industry and helps make money faster and efficiently for companies. Examples of this can be found in all markets that distribute food. Even though processed foods may be easier and faster to make, they are nowhere near as healthy for consumers compared to natural foods. Natural foods are healthier, wholesome, and beneficial to the human body and planet then processed foods.
Processed foods in general are a good idea to avoid because they will have many preservatives and other things which are unhealthy.
What are processed foods? It is food “composed of synthetic chemical additives, such as colorings, preservatives, sugar substitutes and trans-fats” (Fitzgerald, 2006, p.72). Fitzgerald reported that by the “1970s most meats and dairy products that were factory farmed were laced with growth hormones, antibiotics and a range of pesticides” (p.72). Furthermore, food that is frozen, packaged and canned is considered processed food. A brief explanation of the chemical additives in processed food.
How many people do you think these days eat junk food? Fast food is the food that is made fast and quickly. Everyone knows that food is the fuel for our body, it gives us the energy we need to start our mornings. But now a day people are eating fast food more than healthy and organic food. People are not aware of the bad effects of fast food on their bodies junk food is affecting the body negatively. Fast food has a lot of bad effects on the human’s body that we should all be aware of. Extra calories, affecting the brain negatively and Obesity.