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Why You Should Cook Your Own Food

By Mary Basiadima, 18 June 2014

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Cooking a meal is a simple act which for many people today is no longer part of their routine. Of course people eat…they must in order to survive but it’s what they’re eating and the quality of it that we’re going to discuss here. When we say "cooking a meal" we don’t mean popping a pre-packaged casserole into the microwave…or even sticking a pizza in the oven and opening a bag of salad; we mean preparing vegetables, protein and carbs or grains and then cooking them.  For many people, the work involved in cooking with fresh, whole foods is just too much; especially when they can buy what appears to be the same items handily pre-prepped for them. But these items are not the same. Purchasing a ready-made pie for example also means a whole lot of stuff you may not have bargained for.

Processed food is dangerous

To some people this may seem an inflammatory statement…how can a box of micro chips or a frozen cake be dangerous? Well the fact is that what makes up your handy processed meal is not only basic ingredients but ingredients which have been altered through the process of…well of processing! Things are not only added to processed foods but also removed; water, protein and even fibre can be added and taken away from these foods in order to improve texture, colour or flavour and this has a knock-on effect on the way in which it is digested. The body is a sensitive thing and yours knows when it’s being offered something less than great.

It’s not just cakes, sweets and ready meals that we need to avoid though; processed meats are one of the most "dangerous" foods out there and yet they’re so commonly accepted as the norm’ that they’re served in our schools as a matter of course. Processed meat doesn’t only mean hotdog sausages but bacon, ham, pepperoni and pastrami…any meat that’s been preserved or salted in short; processed meat is linked to some cancers which is worrying given how popular they are.

Processed Foods Are Designed To Be Addictive

Because processed foods are designed to taste and feel a certain way, they affect neurotransmitters in the brain which lead to cravings and overeating and for some people food . Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) and high fructose corn syrup are highly addictive; they’re what makes people feel like they want more of a snack. Most of us have had that where we just can’t stop munching on crisps even though we feel full… that’s down to the MSG stimulating the brain in a not-so good way!

Food addiction leads to obesity which leads to all kinds of health issues including heart disease and diabetes in addition to infertility and depression. When you consider the ill-effects of processed foods it’s amazing they’re even legal! Labelling on processed foods is also open to abuse with many using terms such as "Low Sugar" and "Natural" with abandon despite the fact that there’s absolutely nothing natural about the product in question. A good rule of thumb to remember when deciding whether to buy a snack or meal is to consider whether your Great Grandmother would recognise it; if the answer is no…then stay away!

As the food industry develops, it’s to be expected that experts and researchers will look for ways in which to cut costs, cut waste and promote health. Nanotechnology is one which has been sneaking into the food industry for a number of years without making much of a splash and it’s already used in the production of some foods which you may not be aware of.

Nanotechnology & The Food Industry

What is nanotechnology and how can it affect your food? Nanotechnology is where matter is measured in billionths of a metre…it’s the science of the tiny! As scientists discover more about nanotechnology they are applying it to food and packaging with amazing and sometimes alarming results. Some of the most impressive work related to nanotechnology and the food industry recently has come in the form of packaging