Processed foods and artificial ingredients have typically been stripped of all of their original components. This means that they are missing some very important nutrients. Natural food ingredients are far more beneficial.
Whole foods or natural foods come from things like vegetables, fruits, whole grains and much more. These ingredients come by way of nature.
Our bodies are designed to thrive on natural ingredients because this is where we came from. It’s not healthy to sustain ourselves off of processed foods. In fact, many artificial ingredients are chemically based. There have been studies that suggest these artificial ingredients are harmful to our bodies and may even increase a person’s risk of developing cancer.
Whether you are baking and decorating some festive cutout cookies at home, or buying pre-made treats for your family, it is important to take a close look at the ingredients you are consuming. Fruit-based sugars are always a healthier sweetener option. Natural food coloring that comes from fruits and vegetables is the safer way to go.
Artificial Dyes
It can be fun to buy brightly colored treats for you and your family, but these products often come with some risks. There is no nutritional content in artificial dyes. In fact, many of these products can cause some pretty substantial inflammation in the body.
Some dyes like Red40 can cause hyperactivity in children who consume it regularly. There is no taste difference between a product that is colored naturally and a product that uses artificial dyes. The healthier option is obvious.
Natural colorants come from things like beets for the color red, spirulina for greens and blues, and turmeric for an orange or yellow hue. You can even grab a few additional nutrients when using these natural food ingredients.
Preservatives
Many products contain preservatives as a way to increase shelf life. There are chemical-based preservatives, and then you have preservatives that are made from natural sources. One very common preservative is monosodium glutamate or MSG. This chemical can wreak a lot of havoc on the body.
Many people who are sensitive to MSG experience migraines from consuming just a small amount of it. More natural options include ascorbic acid, which is just vitamin C. Sugar and salt are some of the oldest methods of preserving food. They are extremely safe, and these natural ingredients won’t be harmful to your body when you consume them.
It is important to think about what exactly we are putting into our bodies each day when we eat and drink. Nourishing the body with natural food ingredients is a great way to feel our best and live a long and happy life. When we are constantly putting chemicals into our bodies, our bodies will start to feel sluggish. Our immune system isn’t going to function optimally.
Chemical food ingredients can cause bodily inflammation, chronic pain, headaches, skin reactions, and much more. It’s a good idea to do some research on the various ingredients that we may find in our foods these days. This will allow you to make better choices when you head to the grocery store or are making a meal at home.
Living according to what nature is providing us will result in fewer illnesses, better physical health, better mental health, and a better sense of well-being overall.
