Food processing scale
When it comes to nutrition, there’s a lot we don’t know for sure, which can make it pretty hard to give cut-and-dry answers on what to eat for better health.⠀But here is one evidence-based principle, that almost every health care professional agrees on:
Humans are healthier when they consume more whole foods and fewer refined ones.
This is probably because the greater the degree of processing, the higher the likelihood that a food:
Has lost nutritional value, such as fiber, essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and essential nutrients.
Has gained additives, preservatives, fillers, sugar, sodium, unhealthy fats, and/or refined starch.
This is a lot easier to see when you compare specific whole foods to their more highly-processed equivalents.
Minimally-processed whole foods (such as grains, nuts, eggs, and fish) contain a vast selection of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients (plant nutrients), and zoonutrients (animal nutrients). As food processing increases, nutrient density decreases.⠀
This is likely why minimally-processed whole foods may be what all successful eating plans share in common. So whether you follow a vegetarian diet, plant based diet or a keto plan, they all share one thing in common: The fresher the food, the healthier it is!
Sarah
