Did you know that processed foods can deplete nutrients?
I know, convenience foods are, well, convenient!! And it is definitely so hard to avoid them at times. But I recently read an article on this so I wanted to share.
Whole foods are exactly that - designed specifically how God wants them to work optimally in our bodies to nourish us. The companion vitamins and minerals are together with fiber, fats or proteins in one complete source.
So what happens when we fill our bodies with processed foods instead? We replace the natural absorbable compounds with synthetic chemicals and "food-like" ingredients that actually impair the body's ability to digest and absorb nutrients.
Some of the culprits are:
- excessive salt
- sugar
- artificial sweeteners
- emulsifiers
- food dyes
Overall, these processed food additives wreak havoc on your body in a variety of ways. Excessive salt can interfere with the absorption of minerals like calcium, magnesium and zinc while also putting a strain on your kidneys. Sugar can reduce the good bacteria diversity in your gut and can cause inflammation. Artificial sweeteners and emulsifiers also can deplete your good gut bacteria which decreases nutrient absorption.
I have a saying I've used for forever which is, "The closer to God the better the food." It's a simple saying but I think holds true. So do your best: at least 80 percent of the time - do better. Eat a variety of good whole, fresh foods and skip the inner aisles of the grocery store where the box foods are located.
Blessings from our house to yours!
Sarah Claburn, ND
Sarah Claburn, ND
