Eat better!

     There is nothing better than an 8 count chicken nugget meal with waffle fries dipped in ranch and buffalo accompanied by a cold Dr. Pepper after a physiology lecture. These processed foods have become a staple in many people’s diets. It’s delicious and convenient as these processed foods are everywhere and easily accessible. They can save time but their long term impact on your health should raise serious concerns, especially when it comes to the countries life expectancy. 

    Processed foods are any food items that alters the natural state for preservation and convenience. They are high in sugar and low in fiber which causes your body to absorb sugars quickly Even those pre-washed salad greens fall into the minimally processed foods category. What we put into our mouth is fundamental for our health. Processed foods have shown an increase in chronic diseases like heart disease, obesity, and diabetes, all which reduce quality of life and impact one life expectancy. It is almost impossible to avoid all processed foods but focusing on whole minimally processed options can make a big difference. 

    Processed foods are very convenient in our fast paced life but they can impact health and life expectancy in individuals. Small changes in your life to healthier can improve your overall well being. Your health is worth the effort!

References 

Wang, L., Pan, X.-F., Munro, H. M., Shrubsole, M. J., & Yu, D. (2023). Consumption of ultra-processed foods and all-cause and cause-specific mortality in the Southern Community Cohort Study. Clinical Nutrition, 42(10), 1866–1874. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2023.08.012 

Monteiro, C. A., Cannon, G., Levy, R. B., Moubarac, J.-C., Louzada, M. L., Rauber, F., Khandpur, N., Cediel, G., Neri, D., Martinez-Steele, E., Baraldi, L. G., & Jaime, P. C. (2019). Ultra-processed foods: What they are and how to identify them. Public Health Nutrition, 22(5), 936–941. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1368980018003762