The effects of processed food on our health will be covered here.
The diet of an organism can be defined as what that organism eats. Dietitians are health professionals who specialize in human nutrition. These people are trained to provide dietary advice and management. This dietary advice concerning the subject of processed and unprocessed foods is provided here.
Nutrition
Eat Unprocessed Foods
Many studies have shown that it is preferable to eat a large variety of fresh and whole, unprocessed foods.
"The Secrets of Living Longer". This National Geographic Magazine article from November, 2005 looks at why certain populations have high life spans compared to others. The article discusses three cultures that have unusually long life spans and who suffer very few of the diseases that kill people in most of the world. Essentially, there are three things they've found in these people's diets that are contribute to their long life and great health. The Sardinians, the Okinawans, and the Adventists, eat low calorie diets that consist mainly of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
For a better absorption of your body's nutrients, and a better balance of essential nutrients, eat whole plant foods, which will also slow the digestive processes. This results in better cell growth management, and also better maintenance and cell division. In addition, it will cause a better regulation of your appetite and of your body's blood sugar levels. Its also better to eat regularly scheduled meals instead of infrequent meals.
Processed Foods
Hunter-gatherers are what humans have evolved to be over the last quarter of a million years. The diet of early humans would vary quite a bit depending on their location and climate. For people in more tropical regions, their diet tended to be based more heavily on plant foods. The diet at higher latitudes tended to include more animal products.
Agricultural development began about 10,000 years ago. This gave humans grains such as wheat, rice, potatoes, corn, and staples such as bread and pasta. The development of a farming culture provided milk and dairy products, and greatly increased the availability of meats and vegetables.
The Industrial Revolution changed the diet of humans around 200 years ago. New technologies that allow food to remain fresher for longer periods of time before spoiling were invented and the food processing industry was born. These new technologies have also changed the natural way food appears in nature.
Pasteurization is one of the leading processes that are used to allow food to last longer, but it also alters the food's original nutritional content. While pasteurization and other methods of prolonging food storage have improved the safety of many foods and prevent bacterial infection, they also have some negative effects as well.
Diseases related to obesity have been increasing throughout the world. These food processing methods have been contributing significantly to this escalation. Processed foods are usually cheaper to produce and easier to store and last for long periods of time. Nutrition related health problems have gone way up all around the world as an effect of these cheaper and longer lasting foods.
Nutrition: Processed Foods
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