Processed foods are those which have been transformed in some way during the preparation process, such as freezing, canning, baking, or drying. While not all processed foods are harmful, women should avoid most of them in the diet.
Obesity, high blood pressure, and the increased chances of developing Type 2 diabetes are all blamed on processed foods. However, processed foods consist of more than just boxed macaroni, cheese slices, potato chips, and drive-thru hamburgers. It may come as a surprise to hear that whole-wheat bread, homemade soup, and apple slices are also processed foods.
Here are ten processed foods that women should avoid:
Cheese Slices
Although they resemble cheese and melt wonderfully on a burger, artificial cheesy slices are not a decent substitute for real cheese.
They include approximately 60% cheese and ‘cheese flavoring,’ but more importantly, they contain artificial trans-fats, most commonly in the form of palm oil.
They can put you at risk for several diseases including heart diseases, diabetes, and obesity.
Margarine
Margarine is a product that has been processed to taste and looks like butter. It’s made from vegetable oil and goes through a hydrogenation process, which increases Trans. fats. So, women should avoid it.
Store-Bought Cakes
Store-bought cakes are ultra-processed foods. They are typically abundant in calories and saturated fat, as well as artificial Trans. fats and refined sugars or syrups such as glucose syrup.
One small cake can contain up to 3 teaspoons of sugar. There are many healthy alternatives available when craving something sweet and sugary.
Frozen Dinners
While there is nothing like the convenience of a frozen dinner, the premade meals have additional sugars, oils, fat, and sodium.
These can result in weight gain and other health issues. While it may be tempting to grab one of these options quickly, it is preferable to buy and cook your dinner.
Crisps
When it comes to flavored crisps, the list of ingredients generally includes additional salt, flavorings, and fats to give them their flavor. That also means they’re higher in calories and have a lower nutritional value.
Instant Noodles
Depending on the brand or flavor, they might be high in calories, as well as saturated fat and salt. Some pots contain nearly a third of the daily salt limit.
Aside from a few B vitamins and iron from the fortified wheat in the noodles, instant noodles do not provide much nutritional value to your diet.
Processed Meat Products
Any meat that has been smoked, tinned, or salted is a processed food, and these sorts of meats, which include hot dogs, salami, and cured bacon, are linked to an increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and some cancers of the gut or stomach.
According to some research, these processed foods increase the risk of colorectal cancer by 18%.
Artificial Fruit Juices
Despite their wholesome appearance, artificial fruit juices are extremely harmful to women’s health.
The fiber in packaged fruit juice is eliminated, resulting in faster sugar absorption.
Granola Bars
These can be a healthy source of protein and fiber, but watch out for the sugar content.
Some brands use glucose syrup or rice syrup to bind the healthful elements together, as well as other sugars to sweeten the bars. Some brands contain up to three teaspoons of sugar per bar.
Flavored Nuts
Flavored nuts have many varieties. Wasabi, chocolate, and Cajun are all available nowadays.
We love these seasoned, pre-packaged nuts because they contain added salt and sugar, regardless of the taste. But these are not good for women’s health, and women should avoid them.
Why Should Women Avoid Processed Foods?
Processed foods, such as ready meals, baked items, and processed meats, can be harmful to women’s health.
Sugar, artificial additives, refined carbs, and trans fats are common in chemically processed foods. So they are a major contributor to global obesity and other diseases.
Here are a few reasons why processed foods can be harmful to women’s health:
1. Artificial Ingredients: The ingredient list on the back of processed food packaging is frequently filled with unidentifiable compounds. Some are artificial compounds added by the company to make the meal more appealing.
Chemicals included in highly processed foods include:
- Preservatives, which preserve food from spoiling quickly.
- Artificial coloring
- Flavoring, and texturing agents
2. Refined Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates are an important part of any diet. Carbohydrates from whole foods have significantly more health benefits than processed carbohydrates.
The body quickly breaks down refined, or simple, carbohydrates, causing blood sugar and insulin levels to surge. When these levels fall, a person may suffer food cravings and fatigue.
Consuming refined carbohydrates is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes because they induce frequent spikes and drops in blood sugar. High-refined carbohydrates are very common in highly processed foods.
3. Sodium Contents: Because salt is routinely added to preserve goods and improve shelf-life, processed foods are key sources of sodium in our diets. The majority of canned veggies, soups, and sauces contain salt. To lower the amount of salt you consume from processed meals, choose foods labeled no salt added, low sodium, or reduced-sodium.
4. Added Sugars: Consuming a lot of added sugars regularly can cause compulsive overeating. Obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and inflammatory disorders are also associated with it.
5. Trans. fatty acids: Processed foods are rich in unhealthy, low-cost fats. They frequently contain refined seed or vegetable oils, for example, which are simple to use, affordable, and last a long time.
Manufacturers generate synthetic Trans. fats by adding hydrogen to liquid vegetable oils.
The use of Trans. fats can cause an increase in inflammation in the body. They also increase low-density lipoprotein, or “bad,” cholesterol levels while decreasing high-density lipoprotein, or “good” cholesterol levels.
Trans. fats have been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
6. Poor Fiber Content: Dietary fiber provides numerous health benefits. Fiber can help people feel more satisfied with fewer calories by slowing carbohydrate absorption. It also functions as a prebiotic, feeding the beneficial bacteria in the gut, and can assist improve the heart.
Because natural fiber is lost during processing, most processed foods are extremely low in fiber.