And what are processed foods anyway?
If you have been trying to eat more healthy, you have probably heard that you should avoid eating processed foods. But what does that mean, exactly? And what happens to your body when you stop eating highly processed food? Find out more below.
Processed foods
First, it is time to explain a little about processed foods. Because there are some misconceptions about it. Mara Weber, a clinical inpatient dietitian at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio, explains it to Health. She says: “Any food that has been altered in some way during preparation is technically processed.” That means that basically all food you find in the grocery store, is processed in some way. Should you avoid all kinds of food then? Weber clarifies: “Most of the time when we talk about processed foods, we’re referring to those packaged items found in the freezer aisle, at the deli, or those junk foods that sit on the shelves for months at a time.”
When food is processed, heavily processed that is, the process might remove some of the nutrients from the food or add unhealthy ingredients like additional sugar or salt. And that means that ‘processed’ doesn’t necessarily equal ‘unhealthy’. It all depends on the ingredients and the way it is processed. And it all depends on how much you eat. “If it’s a food you love, and you restrict yourself from ever having it, you may ultimately end up binging on it later,” Weber told Health. That is why you don’t want to cut out complete food groups or all processed foods. Just eat a varied diet in which you eat less processed foods but also honor your hunger for a snack.
Changes
But what if you actually start to reduce your intake of these highly processed foods? What happens then? There are some major changes that happen when you reduce the amount of highly processed foods you eat. One of the first things you’ll notice, is that you’ll start to become a little irritated or tired. That is not necessarily a health benefit, but it is something that could happen when you start to eat less of the foods that have added sugars and salt in them. After pulling through the first period of adjustment, you may start to notice that your preferences change. Weber explains: “When you cut out high-sugar and high-salt foods, your taste buds take some time to adjust.” According to the dietitian, it can take up to fifteen days for your body to adjust to your new diet. Another part of your body that needs time adjusting, is your stomach. Because you’re now consuming more fiber-rich foods, you might feel bloated and experience stomach cramps.
After all these uncomfortable changes, you will notice a shift to a more positive change; you will feel more energized and you will have a better attention span. “You may feel more energized, more focused, a better mood, maintain a healthy weight, even sleep better,” Weber says. And those benefits might actually outweigh the costs!
Read more: This is why BMI is a bad predictor of health
Source: Health | Image: Unsplash, Brooke Lark