Are you sure that cake
packets made their way into school lunch boxes? Crackers, biscuit packets, and
microwave popcorn in your kitchen are safe? Packaged foods often contain
preservatives, excess salt, and food coloring, which can be harmful to our health.
Preservatives can kill good bacteria in our bodies, trigger breathing problems,
weaken heart tissues, and, in extreme cases, cause cancer. Excess salt, on the
other hand, can increase our blood pressure and the risk of stomach cancer,
heart disease, and premature death. Microwave Popcorns, the popcorn bags are
lined with PFC or perfluorinated compounds what these compounds do is prevent
oil from seeping through the popcorn bag which is good but when heated these
compounds break down into chemicals and these chemicals may cause cancer. How
do you think some of those biscuits are unnaturally dark or orange or pink? How
is it that they come with colorful Creams Packaged bread, cakes, and biscuits contain
food color sure your homemade snack looks dull in comparison but it's safer.
In contrast, homemade
food is typically made from locally sourced ingredients and time-honored
recipes. Traditional foods, such as dal chawal, idli sambar, roti sabzi, fish,
and rice in India, are made from locally sourced ingredients that complement
local weather conditions. They also have medicinal qualities. For example,
cumin what is locally known as jeera this spice helps lower blood sugar levels
these coriander seeds have anti-fungal properties, turmeric is an antibiotic,
cardamom has antioxidants and cancer-fighting properties, and cinnamon reduces
cholesterol levels and the risk of heart diseases, all these spices are
commonly used in Indian cooking and can be packaged and processed food replace
them the answer is no These spices are commonly used in Indian cooking.
Another issue with
packaged and processed food is hygiene. Food manufacturers may not always
follow strict hygiene practices, leading to contamination of the food products.
This can result in foodborne illnesses such as Salmonella and E. coli, which
can cause serious health problems, especially in vulnerable populations such as
children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems.
Packaging is also a
concern when it comes to packaged and processed food. Many food packages are
made with materials that can leach harmful chemicals into the food. For
example, some plastics contain Bisphenol-A (BPA), a chemical that can mimic
estrogen in the body and disrupt hormonal balance. This can lead to a variety
of health problems, including reproductive issues, obesity, and cancer.
In contrast to packaged
and processed food, traditional home-cooked meals made with fresh,
locally-sourced ingredients are generally much healthier. These meals often
contain a variety of essential nutrients that our bodies need to stay healthy,
such as vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. Additionally, cooking at
home allows us to control the quality and quantity of ingredients used in our
meals, leading to better overall health outcomes.
Furthermore, traditional
meals often have medicinal properties due to the use of natural herbs and
spices. For example, turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties. These natural
ingredients are not present in packaged and processed foods, which are often
loaded with artificial additives and preservatives.
One of the major concerns
with packaged and processed food is the quality of ingredients used in these
products. Often, these foods are made with low-quality ingredients that are
cheap and easily available. For example, many packaged foods contain high amounts
of refined sugars, unhealthy fats, and artificial additives. These ingredients
can have negative effects on our health over time, leading to obesity,
diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses.
Indian families commonly
use milk and milk products in their daily diet, there is a huge requirement for
milk products in India as the population increases. To fulfill the requirement for
dairy products private companies are processed milk to store for longer duration
like perishable milk products curd, cheese, and paneer. To preserve this milk
product dairy industries added chemicals such as benzoic acid, sodium benzoate,
and others as preservatives. These preservatives are not healthy and sometimes may
cause irritation, inflammation, and allergy symptoms in certain people, including
rashes, itching, and swelling and it also reduces the nutritional value and
taste of products. We should use fresh
milk and prepare these products that are nutritionally rich for us.
In conclusion, while it
may be convenient to rely on packaged and processed food, it is important to be
aware of the potential health risks associated with these products. By choosing
to cook more meals at home and incorporating fresh, whole ingredients into our
diets, we can improve our overall health and reduce our risk of chronic disease.
While packaged food is convenient, it is generally not as healthy as homemade
food. It is important to reduce our intake of packaged and processed foods and
cook more meals from scratch using fresh, locally sourced ingredients.