Processed Foods

Foods prepared with physical or chemical treatments are considered as processed foods. They are almost always high in salt, which is their main negative point.  While salt in high quantities is unhealthy, small amounts are actually good for you and crucial for the function of all of our organs. However, the salt has its antibacterial properties, which make it ideal for preservation. Humans have been preserving foods for centuries. Your ancestors used to dry, freeze, can or pickle foods to extend their shelf life. Now with an increase in packaged foods also came an increase in different preservation methods. Chemical preservation is used to delay spoilage, enhance colour and flavour, and maintain consistency and texture of foods. The common preservative in many cured or smoked meats, such as bacon, jerky, deli meats and smoked salmon is sodium nitrate which helps to reduce colour changes.

Sodium nitrate in processed meat can damage the blood vessels around your heart, which can cause them to harden and narrow, which makes it more likely that you will develop heart disease. Eating regularly sodium nitrate with food you also increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in additional to these your chances of developing certain types of cancer increases too.

Processed foods include synthetic additives; E numbers are codes for substances that are permitted to be used as food additives for use with in EU^] and Switzerland. They are commonly found on food labels.  Example cereals are very often fortified with calcium. Whenever cereals are refined the vitamins and minerals are removed and the companies must replace them later by law. This process is called “fortifying”. The nutrients that have been added to foods afterward they are less effective synthetic substances and often harder for the body to absorb but they are still better than nothing and they can provide an important way for us to get certain vitamins and minerals. For instance, someone who has a lactose intolerance might use a water fortified with calcium. Meanwhile fortification is the only way that vegetarians can get vitamin B12 in their diet, which is highly important for brain function and nerve health.

Often the reason that foods are fortified and processed is to improve the taste Often they will taste fresher after a longer amount of time.

Many of the processed foods we get from fast food chains have added saturated fats and trans fats. While these aren't good for us, they do make us feel full for longer due to their slowest digestion.

Generally the processed foods are not as healthy as getting fresh foods and nutrients by controlling your diet closely. 

Some foods are worse for you than others and are increasing your risk of many conditions and diseases. While cancer is one of the worst, regularly eating the cancer causing foods can also lead to heart disease, diabetes, chronic inflammation, and so much more.

Here is the evil food list: canned foods, refined sugar, salted, pickled and smocked foods, grilled red meat, carbonated beverages, white flour, hydrogenated oil, microwave popcorn.

Diet for High Blood Pressure

By Ms H  Judit Hadnagy

Your diet has a great effect on your body functions example -heart and blood pressure. If you have a high blood pressure a “healthy blood pressure diet “ is very essential. This blood pressure friendly eating habits can reduce the number (this is your aim) and further on may help to avoid medicine altogether.

Eating less salt: The healthy daily amount of salt is 6g/day. Salt makes your body retain water. If you eat too much, the extra water stored in your body raises your blood pressure. Most of the salt we eat is hidden in processed food like bread, cereals and biscuits. Don’t add salt when cooking use herbs for extra flavour. Instead of sodium salt use “lo salt”. Avoid processed foods like ketchup, mustard. Smoked fish example contains high level of salt. Always read the label!

Eat more fruits and vegetables – 7 portions /day- Fruit and vegetables are full of vitamins, minerals and fibre to keep your body in good condition. They also contain potassium, which helps to balance out the negative effects of salt. Try to eat fresh raw fruits and vegetables.

Avoid eating too much saturated fat, as this will raise your cholesterol. It is usually found in red meats, butter, palm oil or ghee. In contrast, polyunsaturated fats and monounsaturated fats will help to lower your cholesterol level. They can be found in olive oil, rapeseed oil or sunflower oil. Avoid eating sugar and sugary food. 

Alcohol is not good for high blood pressure. Keep to the recommended limits this will helpto keep your blood pressure down. The current recommended limits are 21 units of alcohol a week for men, and 14 units a week for women.

Drink	Units of Alcohol
Single measure of spirits (25ml)	1 unit of alcohol
Pint of normal-strength beer	2 units of alcohol
Medium glass of wine (175ml)	2 units of alcohol
Large glass of wine (250ml)	3 units of alcohol
Pint of strong beer	4 units of alcohol

Heart Healthy Diet: Your Ticket To Health   

by Moaz Derfasi

Today, women as well as men are susceptible to heart disease. The scary thing that many teenagers and even children are obese and subject to developing heart problems. The main guilty party is a diet overloaded with convenient fast foods, sugary, and starchy junk foods combined with a sedentary lifestyle.

A Heart Smart Diet first and foremost seeks to significantly reduce, if not totally eliminate the saturated and trans fats from everyday diet. The second objective, which is like two peas in a pod, is lowering cholesterol. The Mayo Clinic recommends having no more than 300 grams of cholesterol daily (200g if you have been diagnosed with high cholesterol), and reducing your saturated fat intake to less than 7% of your daily diet. Any trans fat should be less than 1% of your diet. Polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are allowed. They can be found in olive oil, avocados, flax oil, canola oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, and nuts and seeds. These oils should be used on a daily basis because they are rich in essential fatty acids (Healthy fats), especially virgin olive oil. As much as possible, eliminate the use of shortening, butter and lard in cooking. Use Smart Balance margarine and mayonnaise or other heart-healthier margarine and mayo substitutes. Creamed soups, dressings, gravies and coffee creamers are also things to avoid. Unfortunately, so is chocolate.

A Heart Smart Diet also includes white chicken, turkey and legumes (beans), or fresh fish only, however, lean red meats must not be consumed more than once a week. Always boil, bake or grill meats and fish, never fry them. Shell fish such as shrimp, crab and lobster should be only eaten occasionally and never breaded or fried. Pork sausage, bacon and ham should be avoided. One good alternative to significantly reduce your cholesterol is to substitute meat for soy protein. There are excellent soy products out there that mimic sausage, chicken and hamburger, but be careful. They are often high in salt content, which is another thing to limit on the heart smart diet plan.

Why limit salt? Salt encourages the body to retain water and can raise the blood pressure. Often, people with high blood pressure are more prone to have heart disease. The two go hand in hand. Limiting your salt intake is like a double insurance policy. Be very watchful of the amount of salt hidden in frozen and packaged foods, even the so called weight-conscious dinners. Trade canned for fresh whenever possible. Limit the cheese, and if you must have it, have lower fat white cheeses instead of cheddar or American cheese. Cheese is saltier than you think. Use salt substitutes and herbs or pepper to flavor your dishes. If eating out, tell them you are on a salt free diet. Most restaurants can now accommodate that request.What about garlic? Garlic is a natural cholesterol lowering herb. There are garlic supplements you can take now that is released in the intestinal tract so your breath and taste buds do not seem garlicky.

Include natural black honey in your daily diet and avoid late night snacking. Eat fresh or freshly frozen fruits and vegetables, experts suggest that you keep slices and bite sizes handy in the fridge for quick snacking instead of cookies, crackers and chips. Have a bowl of grapes and bananas, apples and peaches out on the table. Good raw veggie snacks include carrots, celery and broccoli. Super charge your health by consuming soluble fibers found in fruits, vegetables and oatmeal with healthy microbes found in fermented dairy products such as low fat yogurt and butter milk. It's highly recommended including Acai Berry, Pomegranate juice and Cranberry in your diet. (ingest them as fresh fruits or can be replaced by supplements if they're difficult to find in your local store).

http://goarticles.com/article/Heart-Healthy-Diet-Your-Ticket-To-Health/4915014/