Joy Onuorah

processed foods are foods that have been altered in some way during preparation. This could be through washing, cleaning, milling, cutting, chopping, heating, pasteurizing, blanching, cooking, canning, freezing, drying, dehydrating, mixing or packaging.

Highly-processed foods typically have an unacceptable amount of empty calories, sugar, saturated fat, and sodium it contains is what makes it unhealthy.

Examples of processed foods you’d find in grocery stores

• Instant noodles
• Chips
• Bottled juices, soda
• Canned foods
• Chocolates, candies, and other packaged sweets
• Packaged meat
• Processed dairy
• Microwavable meals
• Cakes and biscuits
• Breakfast cereals
• Bread

Health issues associated with processed foods

• Obesity
• Metabolic syndrome
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Autoimmune diseases
• Colorectal cancer
• Anxiety and depression