Unprocessed, Minimally Processed, and Processed Foods: Know the difference
—Unprocessed foods are those that are eaten fresh and in their natural form such as, fruits,
vegetables, whole grains, and non-homogenized dairy products.
–Minimally Processed foods are like the unprocessed foods. They don’t contain any added substances.
— Processed Foods are those that their original form has been altered. Deciding which foods are processed and to what degree is not simple. Anything you do to change the food from its original form is “processing”
Harvesting, cleaning, cooking, drying, salting, smoking, and pickling is considered processing.
Processing is done to make food safe and to keep it edible for longer.
–Processing foods becomes a problem when nutrients such as fiber, vitamins, and minerals are
removed and unhealthy ingredients such as sugar, sodium, trans fats, additives, and preservatives are added. These added substances alter the natural state of foods, make them more energy dense, and less satiating. This leads to overeating, to weight gain, and to the risk of developing chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and certain cancers.
WHEN YOU PURCHASE FOODS
READ THE NUTRITION LABEL
CAREFULLY