Too much sugar and salt in processed foods

tj · Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 39

I think the impact of all the excess sugar and salt in processed foods is way understated/not studied nearly enough. Plus, all that extra sugar and salt tends to mask true flavor.

Probably one of the best reasons to cook it yourself.

Any thoughts or stories to share?

cocodrilo · Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Posts: 193 Location: Kurashiki, Japan

When I was 19, I started to follow the Pritikin Diet as a way to achieve optimum performance in my sport which at the time was running. The diet called for learning to appreciate the true flavors of fresh foods(vegetables, starches, etc) without using heaps of sauces or butter. Basically, it was "learning to do without" a lot of the junk that is right under our noses and readily available to us at all grocery stores. Although the diet was a bit extreme, I still adhere to certain aspects of it- yes you will find a bottle of mayonnaise in my refrigerator, but it'll last me 6 months! Yes, I love the occaisonal splurge as much as the next guy! No, I don't buy frozen ANYTHING or stuff in a can besides tuna on occasion. I truly appreciate "slow food" and although I am usually on a very tight, busy schedule, I MAKE the time to prepare somehting totally from scratch as I have noticed the difference it makes in how I feel and function from day to day. I think that people who rely on fast-food, prepared food diets may be consuming so many dangerous food additives that it affects not only their physical but their mental health.

peachexploration · Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 61 Location: Florida

Uh oh. Wait until Boriken see this. He's trying to market fat-free sugar free salt. :mrgreen: Anyways, I will say that until I cut out all processed foods particularly with huge amounts of sugar and salt, I could not lose the weight I had been struggling with for years. Right TJ. The best way to avoid this is to cook "healthy" meals yourself. Stay away from the prepackaged foods. Most are not good for you. There are some out there but most are not good for you. :(

starrleicht · Joined: 07 Jul 2004 Posts: 11 Location: USA

Here's an article on processed foods and salt - I've been trying to watch my processed foods strictly - I don't really think they're good for us at all...

http://www.fitnessandfreebies.com/lowsalt/processed.html

Pacion · Joined: 03 Aug 2004 Posts: 15

I don't cook with salt (my Dad and aunt have high blood pressure which is aggravated by salt intack) so I had to learn to like my food without salt :lol: Now, I have a very low salt tolerance :oops: and if something has a lot of sugar in it (like the desserts made in the restaurant at work), I can smell it as soon as I work it (and I don't have a very sensitive nose :? )