Shopping fresh foods and making everything from scratch is what we should all do. But since most often we live far from our food sources, we often buy processed foods we can store on the shelf and thus prepare them real quick. They most often contain high amount of hidden sodium, fats and sugar, which are not good for our health.
And yes, there are some processed foods that you can actually eat like fruits canned in their own juice or pre-chopped vegetables. On the other side, the list is much longer and below you will find just some of the many processed foods you should avoid.
Processed Meat
Processed meat is the type of meat preserved by drying, smoking, curing, salting or canning. Such types of meat are sausages, salami, ham, bacon, smoked meat, canned, meat, dried meat, corned beef etc. And although these types of meat may be tasty to you, processed meat can be really bad for your health. It can increase the risk of various diseases, including heart disease, high blood pressure, stomach cancer etc.
Granola Bars
Granola bars have a great healthy marketing image, but believe it or not they are not at all healthy. They are loaded with added sugars, which actually digest quickly and make you feel hungry again in no time.
Dried fruits
Dried fruits contain good amount of fiber, minerals and vitamins. However the extra sugar added is actually high in calorie. This can add to your body’s fat store in case you eat more than your body needs and as such can promote weight gain.
Fruit Snacks
A healthy fruit snack will contain a mixture of fresh fruits, whether made as a fruit salad or a healthy smoothie. But the most common fruit snacks you all reach for are the fruit snacks loaded with high fructose corn syrup and cane sugar. These are bad for your teeth and waistline, leading to weight gain as well as increasing the risk of diabetes.
Frozen dinners
Frozen dinners are the easiest to grab for after the long day. These complete meals that get ready in minutes in the microwave are loaded with fat, sodium and sugars and can lead to weight and heart problems, as well as to high blood pressure. So, try avoiding them or at least choose organic meals.
Processed foods are bad for your health you should keep their intake on the minimum level. Always tend to go for fresh organic ingredients and try to prepare your own food.