Synthetic Take-away

I do come across some strange things in my life - one of them was the other day when I walked past a sandwich shop only to see these packages of food. It kind of takes synthetic, processed foods to another level!



I am sure the real sandwiches in this shop were great but it got me thinking that so many people don’t realise that if they eat lots of packaged and processed foods that they’re probably not getting the necessary nutrients to be healthy.

You may have heard that apparently there are about as many obese people in the world as there are those who are starving. The difference between these groups is that one is overeating and one is under-eating: the similarity is that both are malnourished. Whilst those of us in the developed world have more than enough to eat, the food we’re eating is less nutritious than it used to be. In addition, we lead more stressful lives than we used to and our bodies need vitamins and minerals to help us recover from stress: so we are suffering both from how we live and what we eat, or rather what we don’t eat. Every process that takes place in our body (such as digestion, fat burning, thinking, breathing, walking and talking) requires vitamins and minerals. If we fill up on junk foods, processed foods, sugary foods, deep fried foods and takeaways all we deplete our body’s stores of nutrients. If we don’t replenish our stores, over time, we suffer from poor immunity and, ultimately, ill health; we’ll find it harder to concentrate and process information; we’ll have less energy; and we’ll find it more difficult to metabolise food and burn fat. The good news is that we can reverse this process. When we eat fresh, natural foods, we top up our stock of vitamins and minerals.

Let’s imagine for a minute or two that it’s mid-afternoon and you are hungry. You fancy a snack and you have two choices: an apple and a chocolate bar. What does each option give you? The apple will give you a steady release of energy; vitamin C, which is good for your skin, bones, blood and building immunity; potassium, which helps to regulate your water balance, blood pressure and your heartbeat; and fibre, which keeps your digestive system healthy and helps reduce the risk of colon cancer. The chocolate bar, on the other hand, will give you a sugar hit, which will cause your energy levels to crash; saturated fat, which increases your risk of heart disease – and nothing of any value. When you look at foods like this, don’t you think there’s little competition between them?

Food manufacturers refine foods to make them last longer and so they’re more profitable; but you deserve better than that. No matter what you might think about your body or how long you’ve been abusing it with poor quality food, your body deserves to have fresh, nutritious, natural food.

Comments :
Alice Bishop's Gravatar Re: the choice between the apple or the chocolate bar for a snack - I would have both and enjoy the benefits each offer :)
# By Alice Bishop | 04/08/08 13:23
annie08's Gravatar I agree with Pete,

Having worked in food development and packaging, I've had the privilege of having had my eyes opened to visiting food manufacturing factories - all I can say is, it's better to stay away from that.

Yes I am sure some processes are done by the book but the main thing is some of the things I saw was just well, put it that way I would choose to eat things I'd make myself rather than buy what someone else chose to make for me for a profit and in a process that's accelerated and produced using E numbers and yes, they'll use any language to mislead people in terms of added ingredients to prolong shelf life.

The other thought that comes to mind is the nutritional value of a chocolate bar - I sometimes get tempted to eat some - but, when I look at the values they are in terms of calories and I equal that to what it would take in terms of exercise, running or whatever then I think - no way am I going to run 40 minutes to do that!

Anyhow, just my toppings worth.

Thanks
# By annie08 | 04/08/08 16:51
Pete's Gravatar Thanks Annie for your words of wisdom
# By Pete | 04/08/08 19:17
Deborah-Jane's Gravatar I just read that out to my partner as he was munching through a packet of biscuits and he said - yeas, I agree, but the biscuits taste good - and I said to him, yes, but only for a few seconds - and I think it's clicked (for me, not him!)a few seconds of oral pleasure, a lifetime of misery.

Not anymore! Thanks to the programme I've eaten 90% natural foods today, and I feel more energetic and much better than had I had a few seconds of pleasure.

Thank you

Deborah-Jane
# By Deborah-Jane | 04/08/08 21:17
michelle burrows's Gravatar good thinking! when you look at it this way, you don't feel like you're missing out by choosing the "boring" healthy option... all of a sudden it becomes the thing you want!
# By michelle burrows | 09/08/08 23:53
peter  cohen's Gravatar thanks for all you comments people
# By peter cohen | 10/08/08 09:48

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