Food Processing Vs Processed Food

There was a time in history where we ate only what we could grow and harvest ourselves. Apart from a few staple foods and treats purchased at stores, families grew and ate what they could. Today’s world is much different than it was 100 years ago. It is rare to see a family growing their own primary food sources and most of us venture to the store to purchase what we need to feed our households.

At the store we are faced with an endless array of choices and brands. The notion of ‘quick fix meals’ and ‘frozen ready-made dinners’ that are supposed to make our lives easier have popularized recently, but what are you really eating when you eat this type of food? The answer is processed food and it is not always good. We will examine what processed food is, why it is not the best source for your diet, and how it compares to ‘food processing’, as these two terms are not synonymous as some might suggest.

What Are Processed Foods?

Processed foods are foods that have had their nutritional value compromised either by mechanical or chemical means. For example, potato chips have potatoes in them, but do not maintain the nutritional value of a potato as they are sliced thin, deep fried, and sprinkled with various seasonings. The same notion can be seen in Tortilla chips as these maintain very little nutritional value that would be found in corn. Altering the nutritional value and very nature of natural food is the essence of what processed foods are.

Why Are Processed Foods Bad for You?

Ready to eat foods and snacks tend to fall into the processed food category. The process of preparing the food for human consumption has already been completed by the manufacturer, so there is nothing for the patron to do apart from opening the packaging and eating the product. It all sounds great, but in truth, processed foods contain a variety of sweeteners, chemicals, preservatives, and various other unhealthy attributes to keep them from spoiling. This is the primary reason processed foods are so bad for your nutritional intake and digestion. Additionally, most processed foods are loaded with empty calories and do nothing to boost your overall health.

What is Food Processing?

Food processing is a completely different term in comparison. All food must be processed in some form for consumption but where ‘processed foods’ are altered, many ‘food processing’ measures do not alter the nutritional value of the food at all. Food processing can mean taking produce from a field, washing it, bagging it, and sending it out to stores. Food processing can be minimal whereas processed food tends to have a more involved undertaking and eliminates nutritional value from the product.

Gentle Processing™

Although there are a variety of food processing measures to choose from these days, Gentle Processing™ has become one of the most advanced ways to process food in the United States. With Gentle Processing™ food remains nutritionally focused without losing nutrients during freezing, canning, or other food processing measures. Gentle Processing™ can also be used at any part of the processing process to ensure food is safe and without the risk of microorganisms or bacteria that might make consumers sick. Is your food processed with Gentle Processing™?