Easily consumable foods are created by transforming agricultural source materials using sophisticated chemical or industrial mechanical processes. In most cases, it alters the nutritional composition and lengthens the shelf life. But what makes it harmful is the unfavorable and unacceptable quantity of empty calories, sugar, saturated fat, and sodium it contains. There have always been some questions regarding how processed foods are changed from their original forms; these questions have been linked to unhealthy levels of sodium, fat, and sugar. Not all processed foods, nevertheless, are harmful to your health. To ensure the safety of perishable foods, such as fresh meat, dairy, fruits, and vegetables, that are consumed outside of the harvest season or after their natural expiration date, some basic food processing is required. The issue, though, is with the goods that leave our bodies susceptible to illness.
The majority of food must be processed in some way, yet not all processed meals are unhealthy for the body. Foods that have undergone extensive chemical processing, or ultra-processed foods, tend to contain large amounts of sugar, artificial additives, refined carbs, and trans fats. As a result, they play a significant role in global obesity and disease. Consumption of highly processed foods has substantially expanded globally in recent decades. In most of the globe today, these foods make up between 25 and 60 percent of the Trusted Source of a person’s daily energy consumption.
Causes
Obesity – Obesity is caused by an excessive intake of processed or ultra-processed foods, junk food, and ready-to-cook meals. The bad fat they contain contains an excessive quantity of calories compared to the total calories burned, which causes fat to accumulate in various body areas. If left unchecked, it encourages weight growth and leads to obesity. In addition to obesity, the accumulation of fat in various bodily regions also promotes diabetes, PCOS, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular illnesses, and a host of other conditions.
Unwanted amounts of salt are included in processed foods. Studies show a connection between a high salt intake and an increased risk of becoming obese. Although salt and sugar have been added to these highly processed sweets and sugary beverages, the word “sugar” does not appear as it does on the label. The types of sugar added to processed foods are listed under other sweeteners; the most popular ones are corn syrup, fructose, glucose, sucrose, disaccharide, malt, honey, and nectar.
Anxiety and Depression – Here is another health concern to take into account if you haven’t already been persuaded to look more closely at consuming processed foods. Processed food diets have also been related to higher rates of anxiety and depression. According to one idea, exposure to additional sugars might cause havoc in your stomach, which is where the majority of serotonin is produced. Additionally, keep in mind that all those extra sweets boost blood sugar and stimulate insulin production, setting off a metabolic roller coaster that might bring hyperactivity followed by fatigue. 13 Additionally, because those extra sugars have a high potential for addiction, your body will repeatedly seek more, perpetuating the cycle.
Colorectal Cancer – It is a specific type of cancer that develops in the colon before spreading to the rectum. The main foods causing colorectal cancer include processed meats, such as lunch meat, bacon, sausage, hot dogs, beef jerky, or other meat products that undergo a chemical treatment to prevent rancidity. According to a Harvard study, even a small amount of red meat consumption, such as beef or pork, might significantly increase the risk of developing the illness. The chemicals used to preserve these meats or the method of cooking, both of which are linked to exposure to carcinogenic compounds, pose the greatest danger. Consumption of highly processed meals, refined goods, and sweetened beverages has been linked in studies to colorectal cancer. Blood in the stools, unwelcome weight loss, anemia, exhaustion, constipation, and stomach aches are a few signs and symptoms. A balanced diet that includes adequate amounts of folic acid, calcium, and vitamin D has been shown to lower the incidence of colorectal cancer.
The Takeaway
Generally speaking, diets high in processed foods result in less real food consumption, which causes the body to become lacking in various vitamins and minerals necessary to support your mood, emotional health, and general well-being. Although it is practically hard to exclude processed food from our diets, it is still advisable to be aware of how much you are consuming. This knowledge can promote a better lifestyle and aid in the treatment of many illnesses. Food can be a medicine or a toxin, as I frequently remind my patients. Use your diet to your advantage rather than against it.
