May 14, 2012 - Processed or Natural - does it really matter?

Great Monday morning to you, In my journey over the last couple of years, God has really pointed out certain things to me and the following info is in that group. I KNOW that we are all busy, and I KNOW it's takes extra time to eat mostly unprocessed foods, but I KNOW we are worth the effort. Living this life style requires more shopping time (as the food doesn't last as long), more time cooking and exploring with herbs as opposed to extra salt and sugar, and often more money as whole foods can be expensive due to their short shelf life. But again - what price can be placed on living a long, healthy life? The cost of less medications alone help me with extra food costs, as does the fact that I don't eat out as much. That's the other "processed" food that no one considers. I was speaking to a chef at a funeral on Friday asking which foods contained sugar. Out of a LONG table, all but 2 items had "additional" sugar (and some were veggies). Her reply upon being questioned, "the sugar helps to enhance the work of the salt. It really brings out the flavor in the food." YIKES! We have to be SO careful. She said that most everyone adds sugar to push the salt to maximum flavor action. Yikes X2. Anyway - it's BEST when we cook/season our own foods, cook often, fill our body with real foods that have REAL abilities to bring REAL health to our lives. I love the article below. Hope you enjoy - PK People who eat healthy, mostly unprocessed foods, including fruit, vegetables, whole grains, legumes (lentils, dry beans and peas), and limited amounts of lean animal protein (reduced-fat dairy, fish, chicken, and lean cuts of other meats), often find that they can eat as much as they want without gaining weight. If they are switching from a diet containing lots of processed foods, they find that they can eat more yet consume fewer calories -- and they lose weight. Because natural fruits, vegetables and whole grains are high in complex carbohydrates and fiber, they are absorbed slowly and satisfy our feelings of hunger. Heavily processed foods, on the other hand, are not only low in nutritional value, but they don't make us feel satisfied so we eat more of them. They are made from refined ingredients that are so tasteless they require large amounts of salt, sugar, fat, and high-priced advertising to make them attractive. Perhaps our biggest nutritional mistake has been turning away from foods in their natural state. We have replaced them with processed foods that have been modified to last longer, be easier to manufacture and distribute, and be more convenient to store and use. Take apple juice as an example. Even the simple act of removing the pulp to make apple juice detracts from its value for both health and weight loss. A medium size apple contains just 72 calories, and over 3 grams of fiber, while 8 fl oz of apple juice contains 120 calories and no fiber at all. And we're just talking about pure, "healthy" apple juice. Natural foods are nutritious and contain much of what is good for us, including vitamins and minerals, fiber, the cancer-fighting antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables, and the sustained energy provided by whole grains and complex carbohydrates. They reduce our risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Because of their nutrient and fiber content, natural foods are healthy for us and help keep us slim. Heavily processed foods are substantially less nutritious and contain much of what is not good for us, including sodium, preservatives, sugars, saturated fats and trans fats. The most nutritious part of whole grains is the outer cover, the part that is removed to make white flour and white rice. Because of their lack of nutrient and fiber content, and all their additives, heavily processed foods can be unhealthy for us and help us gain weight.