Janey-Lee Grace tells us why we should be eating more whole foods
We all know that ‘processed’ foods are not the best choice for our health – but it can be difficult to avoid them due to their widespread presence on supermarket shelves and their prevalence as everyday food items.
Experts are constantly encouraging us to eat more whole foods for good health, but why is this? To answer this question and reveal the truth about whole foods, Natural health expert Janey-Lee Grace has provided us with some interesting insights into what whole foods are, their health benefits and what to watch out for with processed foods.
What are whole foods and how can we benefit from them?
Put simply, whole foods are those that are either all or mostly unprocessed. The reason why it is so important to eat these ingredients is because when we take food from their original source we benefit from the ingredients being wrapped in vitamins, minerals and other nutrients in the way that nature intended us to eat them.
These foods also have synergy. Broccoli, for example, is rich in a range of nutrients, with the stalk carrying the most vitamin C, as well as having vitamin A, vitamin K, folate, manganese and fibre. Because these nutrients are all found in the one food, it is much more beneficial to our health than taking them on their own.
What are the problems with processed food?
The main problem with processed food is that when it is processed - often to enhance food flavour or shelf life - the result is that many healthy nutrients are removed and then additives such as fats and sugars are often added as well as artificial chemicals.
Also, be aware that foods that label themselves as healthy are not necessarily unprocessed. Organic cookies, cakes and chips can still be highly refined. Some whole grain products are also made with white flour and only a minimum amount of whole grains added.
In the following video, Janey-Lee Grace talks us through her ‘Top Tips’ on how you can easily incorporate more whole foods into your diet.