Fresh food and processed food: Which one is healthier ?

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Abstract
Food is among the most important components of life and health. The food one consumes determines the state and nature of his/her body. Eating a lot of food and the consumption of unhealthy food is at its very best not important for the body. Today, people prefer processed food as they feel it is cheaper and easier to prepare, therefore, cuts costs and saves on time. However, there are many negative health consequences associated with such foods hence the need to consume fresh foods. This paper, therefore, provides a comparison between fresh and processed foods and their effects o the body so as to establish the benefits of fresh foods.
Introduction
Per Weinstein and Scarborough, "The pathway to hell is covered with fake food." Over the years, life has become fast, and people have substituted ripe raw vegetables for the canned ones, replaced the sweet/tart orange juice with the pasteurized concentrates and neglected real deserts for super sweet snacks. These have left us overfed but utterly disappointed (Weinstein and Scarbrough X). By leaving these over processed foods and relishing the type of food one eats one feels better, loses weight, and most importantly gets full satisfaction. The negative health consequences associated with processed foods are often unseen for a long period, and when they become symptomatic, the symptoms are often life threatening. This indicates the need to consume fresh foods as they are healthier than the processed foods.
Nutritional Value
Fresh foods (natural foods) retain most of their ingredients that are beneficial to the human body and therefore are have higher nutritional values compared to processed foods. Classical and recent literature has revealed the nutritional value of fresh foods. Fresh foods have not been processed in any away apart from washing, cooking, and the simple kitchen preparations. This does not deplete the nutrition content of food. Processed food, on the other hand, is food produced using different processing techniques such as aseptic, canning, dehydration, freezing, refrigeration just to mention a few (Heldman and Hartel 1). the processes and chemicals used for processing destroy the nutrients in the foods hence making lower the nutrition value of processed foods compared to the fresh foods.
Fresh vegetables have more naturally occurring vitamins, fiber, and minerals compared to processed foods (Evasdaughter 31). On the other hand, processes like freezing alter mineral, fiber, and carbohydrate content of vegetables and significantly degrade the water-soluble vitamins in vegetables. Moreover, the time taken to cook frozen vegetables if often longer compared to the fresh ones and this destroys hence reduces their vitamin content making fresh foods more nutritious compared to processed foods during consumption (Tourney 1).
Research conducted on enzymes has highlighted the importance of including raw fresh foods in the diet as they promote the digestion and absorption of nutrients (Evasdaughter 31). However, modern techniques of processing foods destroy almost 100% of natural enzymes in food. The modern diet comprises of mainly processed foods that do not have any enzymes. This means that there is poor nutritional absorption and digestion implying that fresh foods have better nutritional value compared to processed foods (Raw Living Foods 1).
Unprocessed foods which are close to their natural state provide higher quality of energy and vitality that is crucial in weight reduction and reduction of the effects of aging. Fresh foods often contain certain nutrients that are vital in reducing the risk of developing life-threatening condition. For example, yellow, orange, purple, and green fruits and vegetables contain phytochemicals that are critical in reducing the risk of developing cancer. Fresh food implies that there is more flavor in the food and more nutrients. Eating fresh foods also means that one is eating the food when it is at its almost peak state hence the foods are more nutritious and delicious. These nutrients are often destroyed by the processes involved in food processing hence fresh foods have greater nutritional value compared to processed foods (Indiana State 1).
Natural superfoods are those foods that have high nutritional value these are, for example, spirulinam, wheatgrass, seaweeds, goji berries, cinnamon, turmeric and cacao that have a high content of antioxidants. These are vital to raw food health practitioners due to their nutritional value. Therefore, fresh foods contain nutrients that are in their natural state and hence provide maximum nutritional benefits for an individual when included in the diet compared to processed foods (Evasdaughter 31).
Processed food often contain high levels of sodium, saturated fat, Trans fat, and fructose. While these increase the foods’ flavor, they do not enhance the nutritional content of the foods; therefore, contain "empty calories." In addition, these processed foods are fortified with vitamin and minerals that are beneficial to the body. However, while eating such fortified nutrients provide the body with the necessary nutrients; the fortification does not make the food healthy meaning that their nutritional value is lower compared to that of natural unprocessed foods (Institute Of Naturopathy Staff 10).
Different forms of food processing techniques exist, and these have a particular effect on the nutrient content. A comparison of food is made before and after processing for any changes in nutritional content. However, the better comparison should be made when food is about to be eaten. For example, when peas are frozen after processing they often lose 10% of their vitamins; canned fruits have lower vitamin C content as it is lost due to heat destruction. Salt is among the common ingredients in processed foods today as it makes soup savory, reduces dryness in crackers, and increases cakes’ sweetness. Studies conducted by Cnet TV in 2007 reveal that most foods contain 30% of the daily salt intake and that we consume approximately 4000 milligrams of sodium daily that is approximately the two times the recommended amount (2,300 milligrams). Researchers have also indicated that 75% of the salt intake is hidden in processed foods. Therefore, while processed food may...