NATURAL/PROCESSED FOOD: How Do I Want It?

We all know that the importance of food in the lives and continuous existence of humanity can not be overemphasized. However, food passes through different stages or channels in order to both be consumable and/or reach the final consumer. These stages or channels does not necessarily mean those that change the state of the food but includes things like transportation, packaging etc. The market which ensures people get access to this basic need are well and all around us. Some of these foods had to be transformed in order to fit the growing demand due to range of issues such as population explosion, climate changes, storage facilities etc.

Natural Food and/or Processed Foods....

I believe those are self-explanatory. However, I will do justice to their meanings. Natural foods are, of course – natural.. well, not like nay food came synthetically. Or are there? Natural foods can be said to be the ones that have not undergone any processing or human-made change. They are more or less fresh or brought directly from the farm – the site of planting- to the final consumer even though it may have passed different channels like markets.

While processed foods are the ones that are no more in their naturally occurring state. They have undergone some kind of processing which includes but not limited to crushing, baking, salting, mixing with other foods etc. Most times, these procedures are done for some reasons such as preservation, avoid spoilage, storage purposes etc. Basically, something either machinery procedures or just human changes have been made to them, hence no longer in there natural state. For example, Corn flakes are made from dried, crushed maize and some other procedures, the flakes are now kind of thin, flat and light as against the seeds which has its rigid shape.

For someone like me who loves farming, of course, it is part of my long term vision. Although, I am into it on a subsistence scale. Definitely, I will go for natural foods. This, among others, is because it is fresh from the source to consumption. No stress to the food, no loss of nutrients on the food etc. But directly from the source. Infact, some spices if taken naturally have better taste than the preserved ones definitely. And there can not be some naturally occurring elements that are detrimental to the consumer health. NO! So who won’t love or even recommend taking natural food?
Besides, natural food cost much less than the processed ones. You know, no cost of preservation, machining, packaging, workmanship like food chemists etc.

However, the role of processed foods can not be completely ruled out because there would be times where supply will definitely be more than the demand hence the need to store them. And some crops may get spoilt faster than others, so it would have to be converted or processed to another form where it would last longer. Take tomatoes for example, I like it when I get to my garden to pluck some, wash them and eat them raw. But it is one key perishable goods so it could be processed into tomato paste or any other thing just to ensure its availability. Besides, there are some crops that can not really be consumed at their natural state. Say cocoa, it must have been processed for one to be able to take them as beverages.

But we all know most processed food will have to be preserved with preservatives, of course. I know that food manufacturers have tested and trusted some preservatives some minimal level of toxicity. But most are chemicals whether we like it or not, they will still have some adverse effect on the human body. That is why some countries have high risked of heart or liver problem due to the fact that they consume high level of processed foods. For me, it is natural food anyday anytime.

Also, some of these processed foods have been stored overtime such that they retain only a portion of the nutrients that should have come with the food if it has been consumed naturally. And who would want to consume what only fills the stomach with little or no benefits.
So, with natural food I stand!💪💪