Harmful Packaged Food VS Healthy NaturalLY Preserved Food

Most foods are processed, altered, cooked, or packaged, before eaten. Some packaged foods have chemical additives, such as sweeteners, fats, colors, and preservatives. Others are fortified with the addition of nutrients such as starch, calcium or vitamin D. And many are simply packed for convenience, or packaged for longer periods. These processes help to avoid spoilage and improve food longevity. But is it still food when held together with additives and preservatives?

While packaged foods can be delicious and very convenient, they can do a great deal of harm to your body. Packaged foods contain dangerous additives that place a toll on your health irrespective of your age, from increasing cholesterol rates to impeding weight reduction to dehydration.

Several reasons to avoid packaged foods:

·      Packaged food is filled with preservatives to improve its shelf life. The preservative side effects are numerous. It stimulates the growth of cancer cells to induce persistent cardiac and mental disorders.

·      Packaged foods are full of artificial, chemical-based ingredients such as artificial flavoring, and colorants. These chemicals damage your body and disturb the natural balance of the body causing dehydration, diabetes, and hypertension.

·      Most packaged foods have a plastic coating that contains Bisphenol or BPA, made from crude oil which is unsafe and poisonous for human consumption.

·      Packaged foods are a significant cause of obesity mainly because of their high sugar content.

·      The high content of sodium and salt in packaged foods may cause serious health complications. They can spell disaster for people with high blood pressure and can lead to chronic heart disease through repeated use.

·      Packaged foods have long shelf-life which makes them difficult to digest. These foods also lack the fiber that is essential for the smooth movement of food through the digestive system. As a result, after consuming the meal, you feel bloated and miserable for long hours.

·      These foods contain hydrogenated oils high in trans fats that lead to oxidation and body inflammation. Those oils increase the risk of heart disease significantly.

·      When you eat packaged foods regularly, they cause life-threatening illnesses like heart attacks and obesity. These foods can also cause skin problems such as acne because of the excessive amounts of oil used.

·      Many of the processed goods are rich in refined carbohydrates. Processed carbs are not healthy for us, since they break down rapidly in the digestive tract and cause rapid increases in blood sugar and insulin levels.

As from above, processed foods contain chemicals and preservatives that cause various health hazards in the long run. For keeping food fresh for a long time, you can use natural kitchen ingredients that may also help you in preserving food. Like synthetic preservatives, natural preservatives work just the same but are healthier than synthetic. So, you can use the natural ingredient to preserve your food for a longer period with more health benefits.

Some natural preservatives and their benefits:

·      Adding minced garlic to your dishes helps to kill harmful bacteria and keep food fresh for a long time.

·      Salt is the strongest natural preservatives and even better if it is Himalayan salt.

·      Spicy ingredients such as cayenne, mustard, and hot sauce are among the best preservatives in natural food. Mustard and the hot sauce contain a certain amount of vinegar. Spicy foods are known to fight off food invading bacteria and keep it fresh for longer.

·      Lemons are a natural source of citric acid and they make a very strong preservative. Their peels and flesh are the best way for avoiding spoiling the meal.

·      The acetic acid in vinegar destroys the bacteria and prevents the spoilage of food. The application of traditional vinegar in your food can also help improve their flavor. 

Natural ingredients are perfect to keep your foods flavorful and fresh. If you want to eat healthier food, choose foods without a lot of added sugars, sodium, and unhealthy fats.