Can Processed Foods Be Healthy?

[EddMarkStarr]

Bodybuilder Evgeny Mishin has found his calling as "Mooscles" the spokesman for Applegate Farms Organic & Natural Meats.

The ads are very well done and Evgeny got his comedy chops - he's very funny.

Unfortunately, my doctor is very concerned about my current overall health. My diet has too much of all the wrong foods and I've been advised to restrict processed meats, even if it's labeled "Natural" or "Organic".

Please tell me if processed foods, of all types, are of any value in a healthy diet. When I go grocery shopping it looks to me like everything is "processed".

 

[Harke the Boeotarch]

Prefer my meat without steroids.

 

[rareboy]

There is no such thing as healthy, processed food.

Period.

If it is a plant it is good for you.

If it was made in a plant...bad for you.

But, everything in moderation.

 

[SLOPPYSECONDS]

puts tis way 1st worldeess proceesssessussed
-ten any furd betta no furd-
ten again 1st worldess swalla anyting
"ten again Hapes gona die ans career corpse"
ten agin

ans so on

anyway

tinku

so wot ya point

 

[Vannie]

If you are asking if Applegate Farms Organic & Natural hot dogs are better for you than lets say...a Ball Park hot dog,loaded with nitrates and corn syrup and enough salt to give you a stroke,the answer is yes.But a much better choice would be a piece of grilled chicken,broiled fish or lean beef.

We include low sodium canned beans,canned fish(salmon/tuna)and tons of frozen veggies in our weekly diet.All are processed foods,but better choices.Don't look at the label.Take the time and read the ingredients of what you put in your body.Eat as much natural food as you can.Take care of yourself.....there is only one you.

 

[rareboy]

Bodybuilder Evgeny Mishin has found his calling as "Mooscles" the spokesman for Applegate Farms Organic & Natural Meats.

The ads are very well done and Evgeny got his comedy chops - he's very funny.

Unfortunately, my doctor is very concerned about my current overall health. My diet has too much of all the wrong foods and I've been advised to restrict processed meats, even if it's labeled "Natural" or "Organic".

Please tell me if processed foods, of all types, are of any value in a healthy diet. When I go grocery shopping it looks to me like everything is "processed".

I don't believe that he isn't steroid enhanced meat.

 

[HoodedRat]

Fucking hell!

FREAK!

Keep it in the circus.


He looks neither organic nor natural.

 

[Kahaih]

^Never mind all that, what the hell did he pick out of his teeth that he seems to be so proud of?

Is that an all natural dog wiener?

 

[Willie Boy]

Unfortunately, my doctor is very concerned about my current overall health. My diet has too much of all the wrong foods and I've been advised to restrict processed meats, even if it's labeled "Natural" or "Organic".

Go to your grocer's deli counter and get actual "meats" there. All of the "packaged" meats are processed. All lunchmeats, also known as cold cuts. Anything that arrives at the store pre-packaged is processed. get the real stuff from the "butcher" at the deli counter. If you don't have a way of slicing the meat yourself they can often slice it for you.

Please tell me if processed foods, of all types, are of any value in a healthy diet. When I go grocery shopping it looks to me like everything is "processed".

See above. Most packaged meals will be processed. Go with the basic ingredients and actually prepare your meals yourself. This will cut down on the processing. Don't get caught up in the fallacy of "organic", it really isn't any healthier than "non-organic". An apple is an apple, the only difference is the so-called "organic" can cost nearly twice as much as its standard counterpart.

 

[zoltanspawn]

... I've been advised to restrict processed meats, even if it's labeled "Natural" or "Organic".

Please tell me if processed foods, of all types, are of any value in a healthy diet. When I go grocery shopping it looks to me like everything is "processed".

Almost everything is processed. Processing is cooking, cleaning, enhancing, milling, mixing, preserving, stabilizing, etc, etc, etc. The word is largely meaningless without additional words, and is mostly a vague scare phrase. There's enormous value in all kinds of processed foods, so it is better to be very specific about what you mean than simply use such obscure terminology. Canned tomatoes? Cheetos? Pickles? Enriched flour? Pate?

The advice you've received about processed meats is actually rather specific on the other hand. It refers to meats which have been made into sausages, bacons, salamis, confits and so forth. The issue here is that the method of preservation has been shown to have a real impact on your health. I think the advice is good, so simply eat less of such things. Remember, going without pleasure is also bad for you.

 

[EddMarkStarr]

Well I've learned some valuable information here. My next step is to keep my most recent grocery store receipts and then schedule a meeting with a dietitian. Maybe my worst bad habit is "eating without cooking". When I was younger I used to love knocking around the kitchen. But now that my boyfriend left I don't want to cook just for one.

I now realize that luncheon meat gets most of its flavor from salt. Are you guys telling me that bologna is full of other stuff, not just salt and food coloring? Isn't bologna just a giant hot dog, thinly sliced?

And wtf is Evgeny holding in that photo I posted, (and where did he get it?).

 

[zoltanspawn]

I now realize that luncheon meat gets most of its flavor from salt. Are you guys telling me that bologna is full of other stuff, not just salt and food coloring?

"Processed meats" aren't just preserved with salt nowadays (though they could be with far less effect.) The art of charcuterie, which I hold in the highest esteem, is founded on a few chemicals which preserve the meat against spoilage and change the character of the meat. You may have heard of such things as saltpetre, or pink salt (not to be confused with the Himalayan trend) or sodium nitrite. These are the culprits which health nuts have good reason to dislike, but are also the magic which makes a salumi both safe to eat AND incredibly delicious. A good bologna does indeed have more than simply salt in it. Don't forego one entirely; just eat less.

 

[Alistair]

I was always told if you can't pick it up and eat it, it's not good for you. Other than cutting up and cooking your food shouldn't go thru any type of processing. Wheat has to be processed, rice has to be processed, or else you can't eat them.

Processed foods ie. TV dinners have so much salt and additives. Even the health ones are unhealthy

 

[EddMarkStarr]

Having to face down my doctor again next month I've already added veggies to my diet. This young dude started talking to me in the produce dept. and I bought lots of greens. My shopping cart was so full of greens I didn't have room for anything else.

So it looks like I'm going to be talking to guys at the grocery store and learn to prepare more foods from scratch.

The truth really hurts. Exercise alone is not enough to keep my weight under control now. I'm eating like a 30 something and I'm pushing 60 years old. I really am at the stage of life where I have to do the things you guys do, like read labels and lower my salt just like I've lowered my sugar intake.

Here's something I tried for the first time last week, oatmeal with no sugar.

I make a pot on the stove then leave it in the fridge. Next morning I use it instead of mayo on my bologna sandwiches.

 

[Vannie]

Here's something I tried for the first time last week, oatmeal with no sugar.

Pick up a large jar of unsweetened applesauce,and put a big spoon on your oats with a pinch of cinnamon.Makes it more enjoyable without a lot of added refined sugar.

 

[EddMarkStarr]

Pick up a large jar of unsweetened applesauce,and put a big spoon on your oats with a pinch of cinnamon.Makes it more enjoyable without a lot of added refined sugar.

Hey, that sounds good! Thanks Vannie - I'm entering a new world with less salt and no sugar. It feels good not to be alone.

Sounds better than my using bologna for spice, LOL.

 

[sixthson]

Edd, you put oatmeal on your bologna sandwiches???? How revolting was that?
Bologna is usually high in fat and sodium, isn't it? Unless you buy a healthier version.

 

[Alistair]

Use avocado smashed up for a replacement for mayo. You can add some plain Greek yogurt to thin it out.

 

[star-warrior]

Try cooking stuff with raw ingredients until they're done, avoid too much fat, salt and sugar. Add spices and herbs for flavour. That's what I've been told. Processed food must be full of flavour, so salt, sugars and fats seem to dominate.

 

[jbrown329]

Try cooking stuff with raw ingredients until they're done, avoid too much fat, salt and sugar. Add spices and herbs for flavour. That's what I've been told. Processed food must be full of flavour, so salt, sugars and fats seem to dominate.

Processed foods are loaded with salt. When I cook, I go very light with the salt. I don't use garlic/onion salt. I use powder. The only salt I have is a season salt (Alpine Touch) and I don't cook with it. I use it (lightly) on cucumbers and avocados.

Lunch meats have a ton of sodium as does most all canned meats.

Mrs Dash makes a good spice mix. I buy regular spices and mix my own.