Do Processed Foods Affect Digestion?
We have all heard that processed foods are not good for you. Not only do they lack vital nutrients but they also may contain chemicals and other harmful toxins that result from the processing the foods. But, do processed foods affect the digestion? And if processed foods do affect digestion, in what way?
Many advocates of eating organic, non-processed foods contend that the biggest problem with processed foods is the use of additives such as food coloring, artificial flavors and preservatives. You may be old enough to remember the red food coloring debacle of a few decades ago. It was found, under laboratory conditions, that a specific red food dye commonly used in processing foods such as sausages and luncheon meats could cause cancer.
In recent times, the European Union prohibited the use of red dyes in food processing for just this reason. It is further felt that some food colorings adversely affect the digestion of foods because of an adverse reaction in the digestive tract. Artificial sweeteners and flavor enhancers such as monosodium glutamate also are known to affect digestion in a negative way.
Processed grains pose a huge problem when it comes to digestion. Whole grains that have not been processed are rich in fiber and thus assist foods in moving smoothly through the intestines and colon. For instance, when grains that have been ground reach the intestines, they produce a hard, compact stool that is hard to pass. This includes any food made with flour of any type. Grains such as rice, barley and oats among other whole grains produce stools that are full of fiber and loose, thus easy to pass.
It is the conclusion of advocates of whole, organic foods that the amount of damage a food does is often directly proportionate to the amount of processing and/or additives contained therein.
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