Reasons to Garden
Processed vs. Whole Foods
There are only two categories of foods:
processed
foods and
whole
foods.
A healthy balanced diet should be primarily whole foods with restricted
consumption of processed foods. There are numerous ways to
differentiate between these two.
PROCESSED FOODS
Generally speaking, processed foods are produced using
manufacturing methods to transform raw ingredients into neatly packaged
goods, which have a longer shelf life. Some of the artificial
ingredients used include:
MSG,
flavors,
preservatives,
hydrogenated
oil,
fillers,
and
artificial
sweeteners.
Usually, consumers can prepare them quickly allowing immediate intake.
Disappointingly, they don’t offer much in nutritional
value.
Most likely, it's processed food if it's wrapped in several layers of plastic, cardboard, and/or foil, and it didn't exist until after 1903 when the hydrogenation process was invented. In addition to being excessively advertised, this food category is well funded by government subsidies. These foodstuffs are located on the shelves of the inside middle aisles in grocery stores. Examples of processed foods include sodas, cereals, and crackers. It is processed food, if it looks something like this:
WHOLE FOODS
On the other hand, whole foods are grown in orchards, gardens,
or greenhouses, are unprocessed and unrefined, and have a shorter shelf
life. These foods are authentically flavorful, have vibrant colors, and
rich textures. Moreover, they are full of micronutrient vitamins,
minerals, antioxidants, phytochemicals, and fiber. Typically, they
require longer preparation times. 
In
contrast, they receive very little
media advertising, and are not well funded with government
subsidies.
When
you are in grocery stores, these foods are
mainly found on the
store’s wall aisles to the sides and back of the store.
Additionally, this food category can be found at farmers
markets, and
at fresh fruit and vegetable stands. Examples of whole foods include:
unpolished
grains,fruits,
andvegetables. These are examples of whole food:
FOUR BASIC NUTRIENTS
The four essential basic nutrients are:
water,
carbohydrates,
fat,
and
protein.
These four are the foundation of a healthy diet. In any case, all food is composed of various combinations of nutrients.
Carbohydrates:
supplying energy are found mostly in plant foods such as:
fruits,
vegetables,
peas, and
beans.
They are converted into
glucose providing energy for the body’s cells, the brain, and
red blood cells, or stored for future use in the liver, or in body fat.
Sixty percent of daily calories should come from mainly complex
carbohydrates to provide the minimum recommended daily requirement of
fiber.
Fats:
are the most concentrated source of body energy. Recently, too much negative attention has been focused upon fats. Fats are not an enemy and are needed throughout life to support growth and provide energy. Unfortunately, consuming excessive amounts of fat can contribute to many health problems.
Proteins:
are the building blocks making up body tissues, muscles, skin, and organs. When consumed, protein is broken down into amino acids providing the body with energy for various vital functions. Examples of good sources include:
meat,
fish,
eggs,
beans,
nuts, and
seeds.
Regrettably, health problems arise when you consume too much or too little of any nutrients. Instead, endeavor to consume a variety of foods to ensure you get a mix of nutrients. In summary, for a healthy well balanced diet make it a habit to choose unrefined whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, peas, beans, and whole-grains, as opposed to refined processed foods such as soft drink sodas, candy, cookies, and cakes.
© Debby Bolen
