Abstract

PROCESSED FOODS KILLING PEOPLE?



According to Kris Gunnars in his article, “9 Ways That Processed Foods Are Slowly Killing People,” processed foods can be divided into two groups, those that are mechanically processed and those that are chemically processed. Mechanically processed foods are those that have no added chemicals, they have just been ground or put into a jar. They are still real food and are not the processed foods that he is talking about here. It’s the chemically processed foods that are killing people slowly according to Gunnars. These processed foods and beverages are the biggest source of added sugar and high fructose corn syrup in the diet. Sugar is very unhealthy and can have serious adverse effects when consumed in excess. Food manufactures spend massive amounts of resources on making their foods as “rewarding” as possible to the brain, which leads to overconsumption. Most highly processed foods are loaded with artificial chemicals, including flavorants, texturants, colorants, and preservatives. For many people, junk foods can hijack the biochemistry of the brain, leading to downright addiction and cause them to lose control over their consumption. The carbohydrates you find in processed foods are usually refined, “simple” carbohydrates. These lead to rapid spikes in blood sugar and insulin levels and cause negative health effects. There are many nutrients found in whole foods that are not found in processed foods. The more processed foods you eat, the less you will get of these nutrients. Soluble, fermentable fiber has various important health benefits, but most processed foods are very low in fiber because it is lost or intentionally removed during processing. We only burn half as many calories digesting and metabolizing processed foods compared to whole foods. Processed foods are high in trans fats or vegetable oils. Processed foods are strongly associated with negative health effects, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, cancer, and many...