Raw Fresh Foods versus Cooked Processed Foods: Which is better for the Body?

Name
Professor
English 201
May 20, 2013
Raw Fresh Foods versus Cooked Processed Foods: Which is better for the Body?
* Introduction
In the world of diet, health, and nutrition, there are advocacies warning against eating processed foods and there are also advocacies for eating fresh natural foods. There are also discourses regarding cooking whether for or against. I would really like to know what is really what in terms of researching for solid scientific evidence on which is better for our bodies. It is interesting that while there are strong advocacies for eating raw fresh and uncooked food, the dominant practice of the world today is on eating cooked and processed foods. It is also interesting that in the world of instant food, processed foods are preferred by many when the most instant and nutritious fast food are fruits. According to Eric Schlosser in his book, Fast Food Nation, "Americans now spend more money on fast food than they do on higher education, personal computers, software or new cars. They spend more on fast food than on movies, books, magazines, newspapers, videos and recorded music - combined ADDIN CSL_CITATION { "citationItems" : [ { "id" : "ITEM-1", "itemData" : { "author" : [ { "dropping-particle" : "", "family" : "Schlosser", "given" : "Eric", "non-dropping-particle" : "", "parse-names" : false, "suffix" : "" } ], "id" : "ITEM-1", "issued" : { "date-parts" : [ [ "2002" ] ] }, "publisher" : "Harper Perennial", "title" : "Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal", "type" : "book" }, "uris" : [ "/documents/?uuid=01a18c48-f13d-4721-a157-dc76f0d10af1" ] } ], "mendeley" : { "previouslyFormattedCitation" : "(Schlosser)" }, "properties" : { "noteIndex" : 0 }, "schema" : "https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json" }(Schlosser)." The main thesis of this paper is that there really is a big difference between eating raw fresh foods compared to cooked processed foods and this difference may spell health and disease or even life and death.
At the onset, many if not 100 percent of the people would say yes to the question as to whether raw fresh foods rather than cooked processed foods are better for the body. But this automatic answer would beg another question. Why are you eating more cooked processed foods rather than raw fresh foods? To this question, people would have different answer but the common denominator to their answers would be this: People don`t see that there is a big difference between eating raw fresh foods and cooked processed foods. The difference is between health and sickness, wellbeing and disease and probable even life and death but most people don`t see this. This is the reason why this research is being made to answer the question: Is there really a big difference between eating raw fresh foods and cooked processed foods? This research is being done in order to put a final answer to this question. This answer should be scientific, definitive, well researched and conclusive. If this research is able to do this, then it has achieved its purpose.
* Research Problem
The lifestyle of the modern man is so fast paced so that it has been a matter of convenience to have fast foods and processed foods to keep up with the speed of modern living. And yet, although there are many positive developments that improved the life and wellbeing of the people of this age, there have been increasing incidence of cancer, stress related problems, asthma, diabetes, heart disease that have plagued the modern lifestyle. Various studies show that these are caused by toxic chemicals in our environment and most especially from the air we breathe and the food we eat. Food processing has become a major business so that most of the foods we eat are processed with various chemicals that creep inside our bodies. At the same time, that creeps inside our bodies. At the same time, the fast paced lifestyle compels people to eat less and less fresh foods. Together with a very stressful lifestyle, more and more people will be susceptible to the coming of various diseases.
Although people would instantly know in their minds that fresh foods are better than processed foods, they think that the difference is minimal and it wouldn`t hurt if they eat more processed foods than fresh foods. This is actually the line of thinking of the Food and Drug Administration which gives the permit for the proliferation of many processed foods. They would constantly argue that the amount of the toxic chemical present is very small that it is not dangerous. The fallacy of this kind of thinking is that when people eat little here a little there and a little everywhere, then the volume of toxicity goes up until it would really hurt ADDIN CSL_CITATION { "citationItems" : [ { "id" : "ITEM-1", "itemData" : { "author" : [ { "dropping-particle" : "", "family" : "Jacobi", "given" : "Jessy", "non-dropping-particle" : "", "parse-names" : false, "suffix" : "" } ], "id" : "ITEM-1", "issued" : { "date-parts" : [ [ "2012" ] ] }, "publisher" : "Soulspire", "title" : "The Raw Cure: Healing Beyond Medicine: How self-empowerment, a raw vegan diet, and change of lifestyle can free us from sickness and disease", "type" : "book" }, "uris" : [ "/documents/?uuid=232f779f-08a3-4583-86df-84407d5b97d0" ] } ], "mendeley" : { "previouslyFormattedCitation" : "(Jacobi)" }, "properties" : { "noteIndex" : 0 }, "schema" : "https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json" }(Jacobi).
This research will focus on proving the fact that cooked processed foods really hurt and that raw fresh food really heals and strengthens. It would prove the hypothesis that there really is a big difference between eating raw fresh foods versus cooked processed foods. In the process, this research would also try to answer the following research questions:
í What is the nutritional value of raw and fresh foods versus the nutritional value of cooked and processed foods?
í What do raw fresh foods have that cooked processed foods do not have?
í What do cooked processed foods have that raw fresh foods do not have?
í Are there any advantages and disadvantages of eating raw fresh foods as opposed to cooked processed foods?
í How does the human body respond to raw fresh foods?
í How does the human body respond to cooked processed foods?
í Which is better for the body, raw fresh foods or cooked processed foods?
* Toxic Chemicals in Processed and Cooked Food
Marian Alonzo, M.D. is a doctor of the "last resort". She specializes in the treatment of terminally ill cancer patients. Her first prescription for patients is to detoxify their bodies with raw food diet. She believes that the incidence of cancer has dramatically risen in the last decade because of toxic chemicals in our environment especially in the food that we eat (Alonzo). In fact, it is not only cancer that rose but asthma, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and ADHD syndrome ADDIN CSL_CITATION { "citationItems" : [ { "id" : "ITEM-1", "itemData" : { "id" : "ITEM-1", "issued" : { "date-parts" : [ [ "2013" ] ] }, "publisher" : "Fox News", "title" : "Dangerous Chemical Lurking in our Daily Lives", "type" : "article" }, "uris" : [ "/documents/?uuid=4deb122d-935d-4f62-a4d6-ea463741a170" ] } ], "mendeley" : { "previouslyFormattedCitation" : "(\u201cDangerous Chemical Lurking in Our Daily Lives\u201d)" }, "properties" : { "noteIndex" : 0 }, "schema" : "https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json" }("Dangerous Chemical Lurking in Our Daily Lives").
In processing food, there are chemical additives that are put in order to enhance the taste or prolong the shelf life. For example, many fruits, melted cheese and yogurt contain large amounts of additives that are able to cause the stoppage of calcium assimilation and even cause different kinds of kidney problems (Alonzo). For example, about half of the mixture of melted cheese is butter, cream, starch, polyphosphate and salts. These are the additives that decrease the absorption of calcium. Melted cheese also contains fats that if not burned would make one`s blood vessels thick and lead to heart disease and circulatory problems (Alonzo). Even yogurts with fruits that appear so health don`t contain actual fruits but artificial flavors with too much sugar ADDIN CSL_CITATION { "citationItems" : [ { "id" : "ITEM-1", "itemData" : { "author" : [ { "dropping-particle" : "", "family" : "Jacobi", "given" : "Jessy", "non-dropping-particle" : "", "parse-names" : false, "suffix" : "" } ], "id" : "ITEM-1", "issued" : { "date-parts" : [ [ "2012" ] ] }, "publisher" : "Soulspire", "title" : "The Raw Cure: Healing Beyond Medicine: How self-empowerment, a raw vegan diet, and change of lifestyle can free us from sickness and disease", "type" : "book" }, "uris" : [ "/documents/?uuid=232f779f-08a3-4583-86df-84407d5b97d0" ] } ], "mendeley" : { "previouslyFormattedCitation" : "(Jacobi)" }, "properties" : { "noteIndex" : 0 }, "schema" : "https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json" }(Jacobi). In bread, there are dangerous chemicals like potassium bromated (E 924 - which cause diarrhea, abdominal pains, and vomiting), sodium sulfate (E 514 - which affect the gallbladder), calcium lactate (E 327 - which cause kidney failure and hypercalcaemia), fumaric acid (E 297), citric acid and acetic acid ADDIN CSL_CITATION { "citationItems" : [ { "id" : "ITEM-1", "itemData" : { "author" : [ { "dropping-particle" : "", "family" : "Jacobi", "given" : "Jessy", "non-dropping-particle" : "", "parse-names" : false, "suffix" : "" } ], "id" : "ITEM-1", "issued" : { "date-parts" : [ [ "2012" ] ] }, "publisher" : "Soulspire", "title" : "The Raw Cure: Healing Beyond Medicine: How self-empowerment, a raw vegan diet, and change of lifestyle can free us from sickness and disease", "type" : "book" }, "uris" : [ "/documents/?uuid=232f779f-08a3-4583-86df-84407d5b97d0" ] } ], "mendeley" : { "previouslyFormattedCitation" : "(Jacobi)" }, "properties" : { "noteIndex" : 0 }, "schema" : "https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json" }(Jacobi). Floury cookeries and fries contain acrylamide, a suspected carcinogen. This has negative impact on the nervous system and increases infertility ADDIN CSL_CITATION { "citationItems" : [ { "id" : "ITEM-1", "itemData" : { "URL" : "/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/cooked-meats", "accessed" : { "date-parts" : [ [ "2013", "5", "10" ] ] }, "author" : [ { "dropping-particle" : "", "family" : "Cancer.gov", "given" : "", "non-dropping-particle" : "", "parse-names" : false, "suffix" : "" } ], "id" : "ITEM-1", "issued" : { "date-parts" : [ [ "0" ] ] }, "title" : "cooked food and cancer", "type" : "webpage" }, "uris" : [ "/documents/?uuid=30de25c6-a073-4f18-b05b-541e02a90ff4" ] } ], "mendeley" : { "previouslyFormattedCitation" : "(Cancer.gov)" }, "properties" : { "noteIndex" : 0 }, "schema" : "https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json" }(Cancer.gov). Processed meat contains additives that cannot be digested in our bodies and so they remain as wastes inside our bodies. For example, sausages have hydrogenated fats, salt and Monosodic glutamate that increase the incidence of asthma, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and kidney problems ADDIN CSL_CITATION { "citationItems" : [ { "id" : "ITEM-1", "itemData" : { "URL" : "/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/cooked-meats", "accessed" : { "date-parts" : [ [ "2013", "5", "10" ] ] }, "author" : [ { "dropping-particle" : "", "family" : "Cancer.gov", "given" : "", "non-dropping-particle" : "", "parse-names" : false, "suffix" : "" } ], "id" : "ITEM-1", "issued" : { "date-parts" : [ [ "0" ] ] }, "title" : "cooked food and cancer", "type" : "webpage" }, "uris" : [ "/documents/?uuid=30de25c6-a073-4f18-b05b-541e02a90ff4" ] } ], "mendeley" : { "previouslyFormattedCitation" : "(Cancer.gov)" }, "properties" : { "noteIndex" : 0 }, "schema" : "https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json" }(Cancer.gov).
The following are very dangerous additives that are found to have connection with diseases.
•E 102, tartrazine, yellow dye. It causes thyroidal tumors, ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) that alters the perception and the behavior causing confusion. It also can cause asthma.
•E 110, sunset yellow. It can be found in sweets, ice-creams, hot chocolate and marmalade. It causes asthma, allergies, chromosomal destruction, vascular spasms. The dye affects the gastrointestinal system and leads to severe abdominal pains. At children it triggers ADHD symptom.
•E 124 pink dye. It causes tumors on the thyroid gland.
Carcinogenic additives
•E 123 red dye is an additive extracted from a herbaceous plant called amaranth. It can be used in sweets, creams, jellies, roe and vines.
•E 131 blue dye is added in sweets, juices. To sensible persons can cause anaphylactic shock.
•E 142 green dye can be used in sweets, mint sauces, tinned peas.
•E 211 sodium benzoate destroys the DNA. It is used in fruit juices, sweets, salad dressings.
•E 214 is obtained from benzoic acid. It is used in foods and cosmetics.
•E 230 is used against the Penicillium mold that grows on citrus.
Most of the carcinogenic chemicals are causing at an early age ADHD Syndrome which is characterized by hyperactivity and attention difficulties ADDIN CSL_CITATION { "citationItems" : [ { "id" : "ITEM-1", "itemData" : { "URL" : "/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/cooked-meats", "accessed" : { "date-parts" : [ [ "2013", "5", "10" ] ] }, "author" : [ { "dropping-particle" : "", "family" : "Cancer.gov", "given" : "", "non-dropping-particle" : "", "parse-names" : false, "suffix" : "" } ], "id" : "ITEM-1", "issued" : { "date-parts" : [ [ "0" ] ] }, "title" : "cooked food and cancer", "type" : "webpage" }, "uris" : [ "/documents/?uuid=30de25c6-a073-4f18-b05b-541e02a90ff4" ] } ], "mendeley" : { "previouslyFormattedCitation" : "(Cancer.gov)" }, "properties" : { "noteIndex" : 0 }, "schema" : "https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json" }(Cancer.gov).
Sodium Nitrate is also a common element found in meats that are processed such as ham, bacon, corned beef, and hot dogs. It is strongly linked with cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, when cooking meat, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and Heterocyclic amines (HCAs) are formed as meat is exposed to high-temperatures. It has been found out that high levels of HCAs and PAHs cause cancer among animals ADDIN CSL_CITATION { "citationItems" : [ { "id" : "ITEM-1", "itemData" : { "URL" : "/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/cooked-meats", "accessed" : { "date-parts" : [ [ "2013", "5", "10" ] ] }, "author" : [ { "dropping-particle" : "", "family" : "Cancer.gov", "given" : "", "non-dropping-particle" : "", "parse-names" : false, "suffix" : "" } ], "id" : "ITEM-1", "issued" : { "date-parts" : [ [ "0" ] ] }, "title" : "cooked food and cancer", "type" : "webpage" }, "uris" : [ "/documents/?uuid=30de25c6-a073-4f18-b05b-541e02a90ff4" ] } ], "mendeley" : { "previouslyFormattedCitation" : "(Cancer.gov)" }, "properties" : { "noteIndex" : 0 }, "schema" : "https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json" }(Cancer.gov). Because of ethical considerations, no human subjects were tested for this. Cooking and processing also takes away some of the nutrients from otherwise fresh foods that we eat. In processing bread, grinding wheat lessens B1 vitamin, iron, folic acid, zince, copper, and magnesiumADDIN CSL_CITATION { "citationItems" : [ { "id" : "ITEM-1", "itemData" : { "author" : [ { "dropping-particle" : "", "family" : "Jacobi", "given" : "Jessy", "non-dropping-particle" : "", "parse-names" : false, "suffix" : "" } ], "id" : "ITEM-1", "issued" : { "date-parts" : [ [ "2012" ] ] }, "publisher" : "Soulspire", "title" : "The Raw Cure: Healing Beyond Medicine: How self-empowerment, a raw vegan diet, and change of lifestyle can free us from sickness and disease", "type" : "book" }, "uris" : [ "/documents/?uuid=232f779f-08a3-4583-86df-84407d5b97d0" ] } ], "mendeley" : { "previouslyFormattedCitation" : "(Jacobi)" }, "properties" : { "noteIndex" : 0 }, "schema" : "https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json" }(Jacobi). In the New York Times bestseller Fast Food Nation, the Dark Side of the All-American Meal, Schlosser narrates the processes in meat processing where many hazardous practices are done. One is that of making cattle feed from dead pigs, horses and even chicken manure ADDIN CSL_CITATION { "citationItems" : [ { "id" : "ITEM-1", "itemData" : { "author" : [ { "dropping-particle" : "", "family" : "Schlosser", "given" : "Eric", "non-dropping-particle" : "", "parse-names" : false, "suffix" : "" } ], "id" : "ITEM-1", "issued" : { "date-parts" : [ [ "2002" ] ] }, "publisher" : "Harper Perennial", "title" : "Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal", "type" : "book" }, "uris" : [ "/documents/?uuid=01a18c48-f13d-4721-a157-dc76f0d10af1" ] } ], "mendeley" : { "previouslyFormattedCitation" : "(Schlosser)" }, "properties" : { "noteIndex" : 0 }, "schema" : "https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json" }(Schlosser). Schlosser also attributes the spread of the Mad Cow disease or bovine spongiform encephalopathy and the introduction of harmful bacteria E. coli O157:H7 in our food supply to food processing. In cooking, one is apt to use Monosodium Glutamate (MSG), hydrogenated oils, and high fructose corn syrup which...