When we think of processed food, fast food probably comes to mind. But the truth is, almost all foods we consume are altered in some way.
Any kind of food or raw material that has been changed is called processed food. “Processing” encompasses everything from washing, scrubbing, chopping, heating, pasteurizing, fermenting, adding salt, and inhaling. When you do anything to raw material, it is processed.
Jose said that adding vitamins, like putting vitamin D in milk, falls under the category of “good processed,” but ultraprocessed foods — which are made by adding flavor and chemicals to foods like ice cream and frozen pizza — should be avoided. She suggested that she avoid anything highly processed. I can’t think of any ultraprocessed foods that are okay, versus some processed foods that are okay.
Look for words like “enriched” on the label to know that many breads, such as white bread, are processed.
Jose said that the best approach is to prepare food at home and use fresh vegetables, according to Jose. Jose said that those foods don’t undergo any sort of processing. It might be the healthiest way to eat.
Jose said to read the labels and avoid anything that you can’t pronounce or recognize, if you must buy packaged foods. She also mentioned that some food packaging contains titanium dioxide, which prevents bacterial growth in the packaging but might cause lesions in the colon or inflammation in the intestines.
It’s not much better to buy groceries from a healthier place like Trader Joe’s.
She said, ‘Mom, this is processed,’ when she was in high school. Oh, my god. I’m like that. I thought these were less processed because they were Trader Joe’s, but I thought they were more processed. It isn’t true at all.
Let’s not demonize food at all.
Kim Shapira, a nutritionist and dietitian, takes a different approach to nutrition by not using words like “bad” or “good.”
Shapira, who wrote the book “This Is What You’re Really Hungry For,” said that labeling foods as ‘good,’ ‘bad,’ ‘healthy,’ or ‘unhealthy’ could lead to a shame spiral.
People should pay attention to what health professionals are telling them instead of what people are telling them. Instead of focusing on labeling food as bad or really bad for us, I would focus on how well I take care of my body in general. This will be a blip and will not affect me in a negative way.
Taking care of your body involves eating the right foods, including those that naturally fight off illness. Nitric oxide is produced by our bodies, and veggies like spinach, beets, and bok choy are packed with it.
Shapira explained that it creates a gas that makes our cells slippery, preventing disease from adhering to them. I feel like if some of our diet has birthday cake on occasion, I feel like that’s normal. The foods we eat should be improving our health, and if some of our diet has birthday cake on occasion, I feel like that’s normal.
Shapira suggested that people consume fruits, vegetables, fermented foods, probiotics and whole grains instead of cake on a regular basis. They keep our bodies strong and prevent chemicals from harming us, she said.
People feel when they eat a lot of processed foods.
Jose focuses on wellness and functional medicine and has patients who complain of fatigue and gastrointestinal issues. Jose has patients who complain of fatigue and gastrointestinal issues. It is her job to pinpoint the cause, and often it is the food they are eating or not eating.
She said, “They don’t understand what they’re feeling.” They say, ‘I’m dizzy’ or ‘I’m having a headache. It’s the inflammation that’s starting to develop in their bodies, because maybe some of the preservatives or some of the additives that they’ve included in the processed foods are causing some sensitivities to certain people. We’re not able to identify them.
Over time, eating too much processed food can lead to high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, obesity, and other reductions in cognitive abilities.
Shapira advised consuming at least four portions of fruits and veggies per day. That includes frozen and canned vegetables.
There are a lot of good ways to get them because they’re better for you and have more vitamins in them. Research shows that eating one to two green leafy vegetables every day cuts your cognitive age by 11 years.
Exercise helps as well. We should do 10,000 movements a day, not necessarily steps, she suggested.
Low-income people don’t have access to healthier food.
Education is the solution, said Jose. We can’t do much about these companies who sell processed food, we can’t do much about them. It’s getting really bad, but there are still some things that are better than others.
Many grocery and convenience stores have canned fish, which is a good option.