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Why Should We Avoid Processed Food?

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Foods can go through various levels of processing. On one end, vegetables may only be cleaned, cut, and portioned before being sold in bags. The most highly processed foods, however, will contain a lot of extra sugar, salt, oil, and calories. 

Additives such as salt and fat are there to make the food safe for consumption. Preservatives are also added to increase the food’s shelf life. When it comes to sticking to a healthy diet, though, the pros of these additives may not outweigh the cons.

There are about 5,000 substances that get added to our food. Most of them have never been tested by anyone other than the company using them. That includes additives to change color, texture, flavor and odor as well as ingredients like preservatives and sweeteners.

Processed foods are easier to digest than unprocessed, whole foods. That means our bodies burn less energy (hint: calories) digesting them. It’s estimated we burn half as many calories digesting processed foods compared to unprocessed foods. This fact combined with the calorie density of processed foods in general can make it easy to pack on the pounds.

It’s very easy to overindulge in unhealthy food and consume more calories than we realize. For example, an Oreo cookie contains about 50 calories, while an entire cup of green beans is only 44 calories. Processed foods like these are also designed to stimulate our brain’s “feel-good” dopamine center, making us crave more of them in the future.

At IKAIKA we do not believe in diets or fads. Instead, we provide you with essentials to develop healthy eating habits. All of our nutrition plans include natural meats, healthy carbs from whole grains, some fruits, healthy fats, and plenty of leafy green veggies. In short, while on an IKAIKA nutrition plan, you will only be shopping from the perimeter of the supermarket, and NOT from the isles.

With our customized nutritional coaching services and meal plans, you can supercharge your efforts and reach your goals twice as fast.

Book your free No Sweat Intro Consultation, so we can learn more about your health and fitness goals today.

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