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Healthier alternatives to processed products

Homepage Articles Healthier alternatives to processed products

Healthier alternatives to processed products

This is why, with the growing public awareness of a balanced diet, more and more people are looking for simple ways to introduce healthier eating habits that will not involve abandoning and renouncing their favorite tastes.

Table of Contents

1. The Western diet has health impacts

Unfortunately, this type of diet can lead to many health problems, including overweight, obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. It is characterized by high intake of processed foods rich in saturated fatty acids, trans fats, and simple sugars, as well as low consumption of fiber, vegetables, and fruits.

2. High calorie at low energy density

Excessive amounts of simple sugars and processed fats also cause inflammation in the body, which can contribute to the development of chronic diseases. Eating foods rich in trans fats and refined carbohydrates, such as white bread, fast foods, salted snacks, and sweets, leads to sudden increases in blood glucose levels and promotes insulin resistance. One of the key elements of the Western diet is high calorie intake while at the same time low nutritional density.

3. Not enough fiber

Insufficient fiber from, among other things, vegetables, fruits and whole grain cereals disrupts the proper functioning of the digestive system and can lead to constipation, problems with gut microbiota and, in the long term, to diseases of the intestines such as irritable bowel syndrome or colon cancer.

4. Negative effects on mental health

On the other hand, deficiencies in vitamins and minerals, especially vitamins E, C, A, magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for proper brain functioning, further worsen mental health (V.J. The Western Diet also affects mental health. Clemente-Suárez et al. 2023). On the one hand, high levels of sugar and processed fats may increase the risk of mood disorders, including depression and anxiety.

5. They're sweet

Most of them are high in calories, high in hard fatty acids, simple sugars, and artificial additives that are unhealthy. They provide fiber that increases satiety and stabilizes blood glucose levels. Fruit noodles without added sugar and preservatives are also a more beneficial choice, especially when combined with natural yogurt and sweeteners that lower their glycemic load. You can't forget about sugar instead as a more valuable alternative to sweetened foods. They can also be a good substitute for regular store products, but they can also provide ingredients that can be consumed at the same time, such as full-fledged noodles, but then they can be used for health benefits, for example, for the health benefits of a healthy diet, but also for the benefits of eating healthy foods such as sweet potatoes.

6. It's a golden snack

Sweetened beverages (Gonçalves et al. 2023). Baked vegetables such as carrots or sugary drinks are also popular, but often contain high amounts of sugars which, after cutting and seasoning with your favorite herbs, give you a unique taste. It is also worth considering making homemade crackers from whole grain flour, seeds or nuts. Sweet drinksSweetened soft drinks, nectars and drinks with added sugar or energy drinks enjoy great popularity, but they often contain large amounts of sugar, which provide no nutritional value.
Source

Clemente-Suárez V.J. et al., Global Impacts of Western Diet and Its Effects on Metabolism and Health: A Narrative Review, „Nutrients” 2023, 15(12), 2749.
Gonçalves B. et al., Composition of Nuts and Their Potential Health Benefits-An Overview, „Foods” 2023, 12(5), 942.
Lane M.M. et al., Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analyses, „The BMJ” 2024, 384, e077310.
Samanta S. et al., Dark chocolate: An overview of its biological activity, processing, and fortification approaches, „Current Research in Food Science” 2022, 5, 1916–1943.
Tahmassebi J.F., BaniHani A., Impact of soft drinks to health and economy: a critical review, „European Archives of Paediatric Dentistry” 2020, 21(1), 109–117.