9-food labelProcessed vs. Whole Food

Processed foods make many healthy food claims on their labels. They can be very confusing, and companies are counting on you trusting their claims. Low-fat, fat-free, calorie-free, and vitamin fortified can make you believe that a food item is a healthy choice for you and your family. However, how healthy is it really? Can your body really use all those added vitamins? What’s the big deal?

The Healthy Alternative?

Processed foods were once thought to be a healthy alternative. Manufacturing companies still claim they are healthy, making claims like low fat, low carb, vitamin fortified, no trans-fat, omega-3s! These foods are making a lot of people fat, sick and diseased – how is this a healthy alternative? Coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke and cancer have all been linked to an increase in processed food consumption. According to the Nurses’ Health Study, Nurses’ Health Study II, and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, the largest, most extensive studies ever conducted on health and nutrition, the foods that contributed the most to weight gain are:

  • French fries
  • Potato chip
  • Sugar-sweetened drink
  • Red meats and processed meats
  • Sweets and desserts
  • Refined grains
  • Fried foods

Processed foods:

  • Designed never to rot, expire or go bad. (This is not natural!)
  • Over salted, preserved with sugars, and full of processed oil.
  • Highly processed white flour *empty calories and high glycemic index
  • An estimated 90% of processed foods in supermarkets are made with either a corn or soy ingredient in the form of an additive. These are all under a variety of different names and high probability of being GMO
  • Unidentifiable ingredients (without serious Googling and a dictionary)

Eliminating processed foods helps you have more energy, lose weight and feel healthier. By eliminating processed foods, you don’t have to count calories or eat a very low carb diet. You know what you’re eating when you eat a whole foods diet. There is no guessing!

Whole & Unprocessed

You’re not limited with whole foods choices. Your eating plan can include a large variety of foods that can have an endless combination of wholesome goodness. Whole foods can even keep you from craving processed foods. Here are some ideas to get you started:

  • Fruits- Go beyond apples and bananas. Try some of the more “exotic” fruits such as mangos or yellow honeydew. Pineapples are just as good fresh in a salad or cooked on the grill.
  • Fresh Veggies! – Try grilling a variety of vegetables or steaming them with fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme.
  • Calcium-rich foods -These can include low-fat or fat-free organic milk and yogurt. Another option to replace dairy is non-GMO soy or almond milk.
  • Whole grains. Pick up whole grains in the bulk foods aisle. Oats, nuts, seeds, brown rice, rye, millet, and quinoa, are good choices to have on hand.
  • Beans and legumes – These include lentils, chickpeas and kidney beans

The variety of foods you can eat in a whole foods plan is unlimited. It includes foods that are in their most natural state and unprocessed. There are so many options out there – have fun with it!

Applications & Resources

  • Read about 10 Processed Foods to Avoid for another idea of why to stay away from processed foods.
  • Check out this one story from Joe Cross and how processed foods affected his life (We do not endorse extreme dieting but his message is interesting, and we encourage positive life changes)

iGOZEN is a philosophy and way of life. We want you to live a long and healthy life. We hope you enjoy our posts and articles. Extend your all-natural lifestyle into your home cleaning by trying our Everyday Cleaner.