Take a minute and think about all that you have eaten in a day. To make it more real take a piece of paper and just write it down. All that have touched your lips in 24 hours, including what you had to drink. And be honest. Nobody else will see it but you. Now just take the pen and mark the items on your list that would come under the category of processed foods. Is it more than half of your list? Is it almost everything on your list?

That is basically the situation we have now. Processed foods have spread like wildfire over our lives that they are almost unavoidable. Do you know how strange it sounds to me when someone says I went to the health food store? I went to the organic food store. So if we want to have something good and healthy we have to go to special stores for it. Because if we don’t we will be buying something that is not considered healthy or good. If this doesn’t tell you what you can get in your regular grocery store then I don’t know what will. Did you know that in some countries in the world they also have special stores but not for food, but for alcohol? This actually makes sense since it’s not really healthy for you so it’s under stricter regulation. So why is it that processed foods are too easy to get and sold everywhere? Why we don’t have processed foods stores where people will have to go if they want to buy them so badly? For more insights about the food industry check Sugar Addiction – Is There Such a Thing?

What are actually processed foods?

There are actually two types of processed foods that come into mind for me. Since the beginning of time humans have been manipulating fresh food around them. Either to make it last longer or to make it easier to consume. In such ways, we got flour, bread, beer, dry meat, dry fruits, jams, and many more. It actually made us stronger, and healthier and food was readily available even during winter months when nothing could grow.

So what went wrong? Why are now processed foods considered unhealthy? To answer that question you need to understand the difference between mechanical and chemical processing.

Mechanically processed foods

This processing includes cutting, grinding, pickling, fermenting, cooking, drying, and any other way when we mechanically change the state of fresh ingredients. In this way, we can enjoy ground beef, yogurt, butter, cream, cheese, and more delicious foods.

This type of processed food is not really bad for you. They can contain high levels of vitamins and probiotics that are considered healthy. Especially when done in traditional methods using natural ingredients it can be very healthy. But the problem is that traditional methods don’t work fast enough for this era of globalization and modernization. Now we have one world market that needs to be connected to all food sources. That means that food needs to be delivered fast and last long enough to survive on the shelves of the supermarkets. And with the rise of marketing and design, the food doesn’t only need to be healthy, it has to look perfect.

Chemically processed foods

So this is the big deal. Chemically processed foods are added chemicals to make them last longer, taste better, and look perfect. So once you look at the label on your processed foods you will see food coloring, food stabilizers, chemical compounds that you can’t even pronounce, thickening agents, conservatives, and artificial flavoring. Why would we use real blueberries when it’s so much easier and cheaper to use artificial blueberry flavor? Such foods are instant noodles, frozen meals and pizzas, candy, ice cream, chips, sausages, chicken nuggets, sodas, and many more.

The main problem with this type of food is basically you don’t really know what you are eating. Many brands don’t even need to list the complete ingredients if they are considered company secrets. So we have to take their own word for it that what they are selling is safe for us. And when their main purpose is to make money that doesn’t sound very comforting at all.

The other problem with chemically processed foods is that they contain a lot of extra sugar, saturated fats, refined carbs, and empty calories that have all been connected to certain health conditions. One of many is diabetes, high blood pressure, heart conditions, and many more. If you keep eating processed foods every day for an extended period it will do nothing good for your body.

Is there really a choice?

The fact is that processed foods are much cheaper and readily available. They are everywhere. Just take another look at your list. Try to find a substitute for each item of processed foods on it. A more healthy substitute. And then consider how much would it cost for you to have it every single day. Berries are expensive. Fresh fruits and vegetables are also expensive. Not to mention nuts, seeds, legumes, cold press juices, and organic milk and cheese. Do you really think that a normal family of 4 with an average income has the money to eat healthy every single day? it’s impossible.

We have been buying processed foods in such large quantities every single day for such a long time. But now that we know how bad they really are it’s hard to be able to afford something else. So what you can actually do? What choice do you have?

Start making your own food. Fermentation is one of the few great things left that doesn’t require you to invest a lot of money. And the food you get is going to be super delicious and healthy. Show your children that creating your own food is a great experience that they will cherish their whole life. Make your own candy. Make your own juice, yogurt, kombucha, and soda. Take baby steps but in the right direction. We are so much more than the food we eat.