Avoid the Worst Foods by Following This Important Tip

One thing I have learned as the years have gone by is the fact that food is more than fuel for our bodies. Food is a source of prevention when it comes to disease. It can also be a factor in developing certain diseases or chronic ailments.

The number one rule of thumb that I have come to use in determining what food is best and what food is worst is simple. The less processed the food is, the better it is. The more processed the food is, the worse it is. In other words, when a food is closest to its natural state, that is when it is the healthiest.

Some examples of this are:

Natural food ...Processed food

Potato...Potato chips

Fresh chicken breast...Chicken nuggets

Fresh green beans...Canned green beans

Orange ...Orange juice

Whole grain bread ...White bread

Peanuts ...Peanut butter

Fresh peach ...Canned peaches in syrup

Soup from scratch ...Canned soup

Brown rice ...Flavored instant rice

Cream ...Flavored creamer

Corn ...Corn tortilla chips

When a food is taken out of its natural state, other ingredients are added that are often harmful to the body. Salt, fat, sugar and additives are added to the food. These things can lead to high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and heart disease.

A good way to cut back on processed foods is to shop the perimeter of the grocery store. Here you will find the fresh produce, dairy, and fresh meats. Most of the processed foods are located in the center aisles. Some of these are canned soups, packaged dinners, boxed macaroni and cheese, cookies, crackers, candy, and potato chips.

Be careful when shopping to pay attention to food labels. What you read on the front of packages can be very deceptive. Just because a product has the word "natural" or "fat-free" does not mean the food is healthy. It is just a way for advertisers to draw you in, making you think the food is good for you. Look at the actual label that lists the ingredients for food. Look for sugar, salt and fat content. Very often when a product is fat free, there is extra salt and sugar added to compensate.

If your goal is to lose weight, following this tip will put you on the path to success. Remember that it will take awhile to make the change from processed foods to natural foods. Make the changes gradually and they will last for a lifetime.