The Pitfalls of Processed Foods

Diagnose the Deception

Take a can of soup, a box of crackers or a cheese sauce mix from the cupboard, a package of hot dogs or any precooked ready-meal from your fridge and examine the fine print on the ingredient lists. You’ll find food additives in almost every one.

Repeat the experiment with any packaged food in the grocery store. Nearly all contain something that wasn’t part of nature’s original package. Technological advances have dramatically increased the variety of processed foods, but compared with the foods our bodies were designed to eat, they are not always as healthy.

No one likes to admit to eating lots of foods filled with additives and artificial flavourings, but processed, packaged foods have become a much greater part of our daily diet. Studies throughout the Western world show that we are consuming far less fresh fruit, vegetables, seafood, lean meats, dairy, grains and bread. In fact, much of today’s average household food budget goes toward the purchase of convenience foods. We are leading busier lives, with longer work hours and less free time to cook.

Few Foods Reach Today’s Supermarket Free Of Additives

Additives—substances that do not occur naturally in a food but are added for various reasons—include preservatives to prevent spoilage; emulsifiers to prevent water and fat from separating; thickeners; salt and sweeteners to improve taste; and more. The majority of processed foods are designed for maximum taste impact.

Nutritionally, some of these products don't measure up to fresh home-cooked meals. In fact, some critics blame our growing reliance on processed or convenience foods, which are typically loaded with sweeteners and fats, for the ever-increasing size of Canadian waistbands.

The trouble with processed foods is not just what's been added to them. Processed foods have often lost the nutrients designed by nature to protect your heart, such as soluble fibre, antioxidants and "good" fats found in nature’s bounty. To boot, processing may strip vitamins and minerals from foods.

Combine that with additives known to endanger your cardiovascular system, such as sugar, sodium and trans fatty acids, and you can see why a diet made up primarily of processed foods is bad for your health. No doctor, nutritionist or other health care professional would disagree that eating fresh, wholesome foods is best for you.   

Plan of action

Most of us are so used to eating food out of boxes, packages and cans. Processed foods are convenience foods, and they certainly fit into our busy lifestyles. However, they were not intended to replace fresh or homemade meals on a daily basis. If you find yourself subsisiting on canned soups, or TV dinners you've got to get your act together. Eating fresh foods is easier than it sounds.