Almost all food that is found in a box, bag, or drive-through is processed. Processed food has added sweeteners, is often made with white flour, oils, preservatives and additives. This type of food was developed in order to increase shelf life.
Processed foods to avoid include: bread, bagels, chips, donuts, pasta, cookies, breakfast bars, deli meat, cereal, soft drinks, condiments, most frozen dinners, microwave snacks, crackers, bread sticks, tortillas, mac n cheese, fast food and even vitamin pills! If you look at a grocery store, almost the entire market is shelf after shelf of food in boxes, cans and bags. Less than 20% of most major markets are dedicated to the produce department.
With many people leading busy lives, moms and dads are pressed for time. Often working late and exhausted, they swing by a drive through or take out restaurant - happy to bring something home to put on the table that didn't require having to cook. Kids are so fussy anyway, it's often easier to give them a burger then cooked vegetables, which will sit on their plate uneaten anyway!
Quick and convenient foods are processed foods to avoid because they compromise the immune system. There are numerous fad diets and resources that tell you what portion of fat, carbs, and protein you should be eating. However, there has been little or no mention of the micronutrients that our bodies need in order to fight disease and keep our immune system strong and running at an optimal level.
Unfortunately, busy lifestyles have led Americans to consume less than 10% of their daily calories from unrefined plant-based foods such as fruits, beans, nuts, seeds and vegetables. Poor diet is leading this country into a state of disease, obesity, and malnutrition. Most people are unaware that numerous studies and research link the rise of disease to a lack of nutrition. I am not talking about a lack of calories, or food consumption, but a lack of nutrients. Studies are showing that inflammation is a leading cause of disease. Inflammation is caused by free radical damage. Free radical imbalance in the body is linked to environmental and physical stress, processed foods, medications, and smoking. These are just a few of the contributors.
Micronutrients are made up of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients found in whole foods, mostly located in the produce section of your local super market. They are not found in animal products or processed food. Whole foods are as close to nature as possible with little or no alteration of their natural state. When we eat a diet high in whole foods, we feed our bodies thousands of micronutrients which lower our blood sugar and cholesterol, decrease weight, boost the immune system, reverse heart disease and prevent cancer. Yet, knowing all of this, 90% of the American diet still consists of animal products and processed food. When wanting to know what processed food to avoid, the answer is almost all of it! It's becoming more and more clear that diets high in vegetables, fruits, seed and nuts, and beans lead to longevity and dynamic health! If you want a life of wellness and health the prescription is to eat more plant-based whole foods!
Recently the AMA announced that vitamin deficiency is common among the general population, and therefore, recommend that adults take some form of supplementation. This is an understatement to say the least.
If you are looking to supplement your diet, look for ones that are derived from whole foods in the form of whole food concentrate. These supplements have been minimally processed and keep most of their micronutrients intact. One of the many benefits of this type of supplement is that it can be absorbed on a cellular level and begin to go to work immediately. Many vitamin pills have been processed, and therefore, are not easily absorbed. Much of the content (as high as 90%) is not useable and is eliminated from the body.
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