Processed Foods: Nutrient Robbers

What is a processed food? Any food that has had its nutrients stripped away from it and has had man-made chemicals, synthetic vitamins or minerals, hydrogenated oils, etc., added to it.

Most fast foods are processed. All soft drinks, all ice creams, all foods which contain refined sugar, all foods which are made from refined flour such as cookies, cakes, breads, rolls, muffins, donuts, and most pastas. In fact, most items in your grocery store are processed foods. So, what isn't processed? Vegetables, fruits, meats, poultry, fish, raw nuts and seeds, and water cover most of the unprocessed foods.

So why are processed foods so bad for you? Because they rob your body of vital nutrients when your body is trying to digest, metabolize, and absorb them. For example, all the vitamins and minerals that are processed out of the sugar beet to make sugar must then be pulled out of your cells to properly metabolize the refined sugar that you ingested when you drank that Coca Cola. Those nutrients are vital to your organs functioning normally. Without the proper nutrients, your organ systems start to malfunction and you develop symptoms. Even a minor symptom such as a leg cramp at night may be an early sign that your heart may not be getting the calcium that it needs.

This subject is vital to your health. In this tip, I will just give a partial list of nutrients that are lost in the processing process and then are pulled out of your system when you eat these foods. You must begin to understand that every degenerative disease that mankind suffers from has been linked to the consumption of procesed foods.

The partial list includes:

  • Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, and E
  • Biotin
  • Folic Acid
  • Chromium
  • Iron
  • Calcium
  • Potassium
  • Magnesium
  • Zinc
  • Manganese
  • Colbalt
  • Selenium
  • Esssential Fatty Acids

I realize that this list is usless to you unless I inform you of the functions in the body that these vital nutrients perform. Throughout the months to come, I will do just that. This subject also leads into supplementation. In the future, I will discuss the futility of taking synthetic supplements which unfortunately most of you take. I will discuss how synthetic supplements are potentially harmful to you. Just a side note: All those foods that say enriched are simply refined/processed foods that have been stripped of all their natural nutrient. A few synthetic nutrients, which are useless, are added back and the manufacturers make you think you've just purchased something healthy. Wrong!!

Lastly, I would like to announce some new products that we carry at the office. My wife Tari has brought a line of completely chemically free skin care products by Jurlique (Australian Company) into the office. This includes moisturizing creams, skin scrubs, masks, essential oils, bath salts, etc. If you are starting to look for that unique mothers day gift, come take a look. Also, Tari offers facials, cellulite treatments, and massage using these products. She can provide you with a gift certificate for any of these services. If you call the office, we can go over the complete price list or fax one to you. But, for example, a facial treatment which includes massage to the neck and upper back and lasts 45 minutes costs $35. Feel free to call or e-mail with any questions.