Avoid Processed Foods!

If you're trying to eat healthy, you've probably heard to stay away from processed foods. While that's great advice, many people are confused about what exactly constitutes processed food. Well, if it's boxed, bagged, canned or jarred and has a list of ingredients on the label, it's most likely processed.

Processed foods have been altered from their natural state for safety and convenience reasons. Have you ever wondered why a pre-packaged food stays fresh for months when the same food made from scratch grows moldy in just days? It's because food manufacturers use man-made ingredients that prolong a product's shelf life. And unfortunately, these ingredients may have the opposite effect on peoples' health. Here are three reason's to avoid processed foods:

Obesity - Heavily processed foods are usually higher in sugar, fat and salt, and lower in nutrients and fiber than the raw foods used to create them

Heart Disease - Many processed foods have trans fatty acids (TFA), the dangerous type of fat you don't want in your diet. TFA's give a rise to LDL, the dangerous cholesterol, and squash HDL, the good one.

Cancer - Some synthetic chemicals used in the processed foods industry are known to have carcinogenic properties.


So how do you choose healthy foods?

Choosing healthy food is simple if you just remember a few guidelines. First, select fresh, unprocessed whole foods. This includes fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains and legumes, raw nuts and seeds, and animal foods; eggs, poultry, meat and fish. These unprocessed, fresh foods contain the greatest amount of vitamins, minerals and enzymes and provide the body with the greatest amount of nutrition!

To get started preparing meals, try to incorporate at least 66% of the meal from fresh foods. Then, you can enjoy small amounts or an occasional healthy packaged food to get a quick meal on the table!