There was a time in history where we ate only what we could grow and harvest ourselves. Apart from a few staple foods and treats purchased at stores, families grew and ate what they could. Today’s world is much different than it was 100 years ago. It is rare to see a family growing their own primary food sources and most of us venture to the store to purchase what we need to feed our households.
At the store we are faced with an endless array of choices and brands. The notion of ‘quick fix meals’ and ‘frozen ready-made dinners’ that are supposed to make our lives easier have popularized recently, but what are you really eating when you eat this type of food? The answer is processed food and it is not always good. We will examine what processed food is, why it is not the best source for your diet, and how it compares to ‘food processing’, as these two terms are not synonymous as some might suggest.
What Are Processed Foods?
Processed foods are foods that have had their nutritional value compromised either by mechanical or chemical means. For example, potato chips have potatoes in them, but do not maintain the nutritional value of a potato as they are sliced thin, deep fried, and sprinkled with various seasonings. The same notion can be seen in Tortilla chips as these maintain very little nutritional value that would be found in corn. Altering the nutritional value and very nature of natural food is the essence of what processed foods are.
Why Are Processed Foods Bad for You?
Ready to eat foods and snacks tend to fall into the processed food category. The process of preparing the food for human consumption has already been completed by the manufacturer, so there is nothing for the patron to do apart from opening the packaging and eating the product. It all sounds great, but in truth, processed foods contain a variety of sweeteners, chemicals, preservatives, and various other unhealthy attributes to keep them from spoiling. This is the primary reason processed foods are so bad for your nutritional intake and digestion. Additionally, most processed foods are loaded with empty calories and do nothing to boost your overall health.
What is Food Processing?
Food processing is a completely different term in comparison. All food must be processed in some form for consumption but where ‘processed foods’ are altered, many ‘food processing’ measures do not alter the nutritional value of the food at all. Food processing can mean taking produce from a field, washing it, bagging it, and sending it out to stores. Food processing can be minimal whereas processed food tends to have a more involved undertaking and eliminates nutritional value from the product.
Gentle Processing™
Although there are a variety of food processing measures to choose from these days, Gentle Processing™ has become one of the most advanced ways to process food in the United States. With Gentle Processing™ food remains nutritionally focused without losing nutrients during freezing, canning, or other food processing measures. Gentle Processing™ can also be used at any part of the processing process to ensure food is safe and without the risk of microorganisms or bacteria that might make consumers sick. Is your food processed with Gentle Processing™?
FAQs
When it comes to the foods we consume, there is often confusion surrounding the terms “food processing” and “processed foods”. While food processing is a crucial step in preparing foods for consumption, processed foods often contain added sugars, sodium, and unhealthy fats that can be detrimental to our health.
What is the major difference between processed and unprocessed food? ›
Processed foods are any foods that have been altered from their natural state, usually for convenience, safety, or shelf life. Unprocessed foods are those that are in their original form, or minimally changed by washing, peeling, or cutting.
What is the difference between processed food and real food? ›
Defining Processed and Whole Foods
These changes can involve the addition of sugar, salt, unhealthy fats, artificial flavors, and preservatives. In contrast, whole foods are in their natural or minimally processed state, providing essential nutrients without excessive additives.
What is the difference between food processing and food preparation? ›
People process foods every day when preparing meals to feed their families. However, the term "food processing" is broader than preparing and cooking foods. It involves applying scientific and technological principles to preserve foods by slowing down or stopping the natural processes of decay.
What are the 4 main food processing? ›
This is a diagram visually summarizing the main stages of food processing: ingestion, digestion, absorption, and elimination.
What is the most unprocessed food? ›
Unprocessed or minimally processed foods: Think vegetables, grains, legumes, fruits, nuts, meats, seafood, herbs, spices, garlic, eggs and milk. Make these real, whole foods the basis of your diet.
Why is processed food so bad for you? ›
Buying processed foods can lead to people eating more than the recommended amounts of sugar, salt and fat as they may not be aware of how much has been added to the food they are buying and eating. These foods can also be higher in calories due to the high amounts of added sugar or fat in them.
Is pizza a processed food? ›
Many ready-made pizzas are considered overly processed – what is now commonly referred to as an ultra-processed food. Recent research, co-funded by World Cancer Research Fund, found that eating these types of food could increase the risk of cancer.
Why is unprocessed food better? ›
Focusing on eating unprocessed foods, sometimes called "clean eating," has several health benefits, such as boosting your mood, helping you lose weight, and improving sleep. To do this, you may want to limit your intake of processed foods, including cheese, processed meats, sugar-sweetened drinks, and potato chips.
What is the best definition of food processing? ›
Food processing is the transformation of agricultural products into food, or of one form of food into other forms. Food processing takes many forms, from grinding grain into raw flour, home cooking, and complex industrial methods used in the making of convenience foods.
According to the Department of Agriculture, processed food are any raw agricultural commodities that have been washed, cleaned, milled, cut, chopped, heated, pasteurized, blanched, cooked, canned, frozen, dried, dehydrated, mixed or packaged — anything done to t hem that alters their natural state.
Why is food processing so important? ›
Almost all food is processed in some way before it is eaten. Commercially, the main reasons to process food are to eliminate micro-organisms (which may cause disease) and to extend shelf life. Simply cooking or combining a food with other foodstuffs to create a recipe is also considered a form of food processing.
What is considered a processed food? ›
According to the Department of Agriculture, processed food are any raw agricultural commodities that have been washed, cleaned, milled, cut, chopped, heated, pasteurized, blanched, cooked, canned, frozen, dried, dehydrated, mixed or packaged — anything done to t hem that alters their natural state.
What do you mean by food processing? ›
Food processing is the transformation of agricultural products into food, or of one form of food into other forms. Food processing takes many forms, from grinding grain into raw flour, home cooking, and complex industrial methods used in the making of convenience foods.
What are examples of processed food? ›
Examples of common processed foods include:
- breakfast cereals.
- cheese.
- tinned vegetables.
- bread.
- savoury snacks, such as crisps, sausage rolls, pies and pasties.
- meat products, such as bacon, sausage, ham, salami and paté
- microwave meals or ready meals.
- cakes and biscuits.
Some common examples of food processing include canning, freezing, fermentation, and dehydration.
