Health experts recommend a reduction in the consumption of processed foods and a rise in the consumption of natural foods. What are natural foods? In case you do not know exactly what they are, then it becomes difficult to adhere to a healthy eating plan.

Therefore, you should know that natural foods are those that do not undergo industrial processes that alter their composition . This is the case of foods to which coloring is added, such as candies and sweets.

Furthermore, fruits, vegetables and greens can also undergo changes, such as the addition of pesticides and other processes . In this way, the naturalness of these foods is diminished.

Have you noticed that there are some aspects of natural nutrition that still raise doubts? Continue reading and learn more about the subject!

What are natural foods?

It’s worth mentioning that natural foods are those in which the chemical composition has not been altered at all. For instance, when you pluck a banana directly from the tree, devoid of added pesticides, it’s a natural food.

But if it has frozen, cleaned, dried, or stored, or whatever it could be, no matter how simple, it loses its naturalness. Have you noticed how even fruits can not be considered totally natural foods?

Even so, if the process which made the difference in the food was simple, it is still suggested to be consumed daily. After all, there are many advantages to this practice, as you will see below.

Just like there are minimally processed foods, there are highly processed foods. It is in this category that foods that have undergone industrial processes fall. These include the addition of sugar and salt and other substances that in themselves remove all traces of naturalness from the food.

There is another classification, that of ultra-processed foods, which are manufactured entirely by the industry . To differentiate them, simply look at the product label with information about the ingredients. In general, these are the inputs, dyes and chemical additives, represented by stuffed cookies, soft drinks and many others.

Natural VS processed foods

As we have learned so far, natural foods are not processed foods because they are not altered through processes that make them have different composition . Usually, changes made are only meant to give the food certain flavors and appearances.

Some of these changes even involve the addition of addictive substances. That means the more you consume foods containing those substances, the more you want to continue consuming them. Do you feel me? The most culprits behind this are sugar and trans fat.

What are the benefits of consuming natural foods?

As seen in the last topic, regular consumption of processed foods, to the detriment of natural foods, increases the risk of complications. That is why natural food should be a priority in your routine. Do you want to understand the benefits of this choice? Follow along!

Helps prevent disease

As with the excessive consumption of processed foods, an increase in disease risk, preventing this problem is done through natural foods. This is because many of them are rich in antioxidants, capable of fighting free radicals, which make the body susceptible to disease and other discomforts.

Therefore, the action of foods rich in antioxidants prevents pathologies and chronic diseases. The foods most associated with this benefit are fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins A, C or E. This is the case with carrots, beets, broccoli, oranges, and many others.

Besides, natural foods also contribute to the strengthening of the immune system, which is quite useful for both the prevention and fight against diseases. What’s more, the body needs nutrients, and these foods provide them. Among them, there are ginger, fish, and broccoli.

Contributes to better nights of sleep

An inadequate diet, especially with processed foods, impacts the quality of sleep. This is why drinking soda and other processed foods is not recommended at night.

This is because, at this time, the intestine works more slowly to prepare the body for sleep . Therefore, when eating foods like these, which require more effort from the intestine, the body has difficulty falling asleep.

It is for reasons like these that your stomach tends to feel bloated after eating them. Therefore, prioritize eating natural foods so that your sleep is not affected. Also, make sure to eat early to help improve the quality of your sleep.

Improves quality of life

As we have seen, eating natural foods helps improve the quality of sleep. This benefit is useful directly and indirectly in improving quality of life. After all, having a good night’s sleep contributes to increased concentration, disposition , good mood and much more.

In addition, natural nutrition also prevents diseases and helps regulate your body. This reduces the chances of complications and any health problems . Therefore, you can carry out your daily tasks with greater peace of mind.

Provides more nutrients

Natural food is important because it is nutritious. That is, it is rich in vitamins and minerals, which balances an individual’s nutritional needs and reduces a series of health problems. Consider that this eating habit is also beneficial in contributing to fat loss.

This advantage extends beyond aesthetic concerns. In any case, gain in abdominal circumference increases the susceptibility to serious health conditions, such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

So, did you understand what natural foods are, as well as the benefits that are provided by their consumption into the body? As we see, it provides more nutrients, helps in good sleep, prevents diseases, and treats the body and mind. For all these reasons, natural foods need to be regularly consumed.