Hello everyone in the wonderful hive family. Hope you are all doing great. Once again, I’m grateful to the hive learner’s community for their amazing initiatives.
The hive learners’ community has again presented us with an amazing topic; natural foods vs processed foods; food in this day and age, we see both kinds of food in the market. Which one do you think is the best and give your reasons for that.
I’m sure a lot of us have heard the saying “you are what you eat”. Whether you are a gym instructor, teacher, pilot, lawyer, or writer, it is very important to eat good food to be healthy. Everything we eat affects not only our health but also our body, energy level, behavior, and even the way we think. That is why it is very important to eat good food.
A person who eats a balanced diet and someone who chooses to live by drinking alcohol and eating fast foods, who do you think will live longer? Definitely, someone who eats proper nutrition will have a different kind of life than someone who drinks alcohol every time.
What are processed foods?
Processed foods are agricultural products that have been transformed from their original state by washing, canning, freezing, and so on. Examples of processed foods are; frozen meat, canned beef, cereals, bread, biscuits, cake, etc. The truth is, it is very difficult to do away with these processed foods because we are mostly surrounded by them and we’ll need them at some point.
What are natural foods?
Natural foods are foods that have undergone little processing and have not had any chemical or artificial substances added to them. Examples of natural foods are; fresh fruits, yams, beans, rice, vegetables, and so on. The truth is, that all-natural foods are minimally processed (baking or cooking foods). But unlike processed foods, chemical additives or artificial ingredients are not added to natural foods.
Have you ever wondered why our forefathers lived above 100years? One of the reasons is that they didn’t eat dangerous foods.
Reasons why natural foods are better than processed foods
Low in sugar
Eating too much sugary food could damage the health by causing obesity, fatty liver diseases, and heart diseases. Most of these processed foods are highly filled with sugar. Unlike most processed foods, natural foods tend to be low in sugar. Although fruits contain sugar, it is much healthier than processed foods like soda, because it contains water and fiber.
Processed foods are loaded with chemicals
Unlike natural foods, processed foods are loaded with chemicals to prevent them from spoiling or flavors or additives to make them taste well. These chemicals are very harmful to the body.
I’ve always thought about this; What do they add to sardines that make them last for more than 2 years? I don’t know what it is, but what I’m sure of is that consuming too much of it will certainly lead to different illnesses.
A diet containing natural foods helps fight off diseases
Natural foods are loaded with nutrients that keep the body healthy. Including natural foods in our diet will help keep diseases at bay.
Natural foods are loaded with vitamins and minerals
As I said earlier, we need good food to keep our bodies and health healthy. Natural foods are loaded with vitamins and minerals which help to keep the body healthy.
Good for your skin
If you’re the type of person that wants smooth and shiny skin, then you should eat more natural foods than processed foods. Natural foods help protect and maintain the skin. Natural foods like broccoli, spinach, avocado, olive oil, salmon, lentils, and so on help reduce wrinkles and some other skin-related diseases.
They are high in antioxidants
One of the reasons why natural foods are better than processed foods is because they are high in antioxidants. Natural foods like avocado, beans, legumes, etc., contain antioxidants that help reduce stress.
Now, the question is, can we avoid processed foods?
Personally, I think it would be a very difficult thing to do.
Here’s a list of tips to make your diet healthier.
Drink lots of water
Source
My mom would always tell my siblings and I to drink at least 7 sachets of water every day. Drinking water is important for our health. Drinking enough water can help control weight maintenance.
Increase your protein intake
Good sources of protein are eggs, beans, dairy products, etc. consuming enough protein helps curb cravings and also increases the number of calories you burn every day.
Eat enough fruits and vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are loaded with nutrients that help keep the body healthy. Make sure you take at least 1 fruit per day.
Eat eggs
Source
Eggs are an excellent source of protein. They are very healthy, especially when eaten for breakfast.
Sleep well
Getting a good amount of sleep is vital for a healthy lifestyle. It is recommended that every adult should have at least 8 hours of sleep every day. Make sure you don’t go to bed hungry.