All natural foods are considered to be foods that have been minimally processed and do not contain artificial ingredients or isolated vitamins, minerals and chemicals. Many vitamins and so called “health food” products in stores are produced synthetically in a laboratory. Synthetic man made nutrients are not easily absorbed by the body because they are not recognized as something nature intended us to consume. People who are taking isolated vitamins every day are throwing their money down the toilet because the body considers most of those isolated chemicals as waste.
Usually more nutritious than refined foods, all natural foods do not include ingredients such as refined sugars, refined flours, milled grains, hydrogenated oils, artificial sweeteners, artificial food colors, or artificial flavorings. Proponents of natural food diets argue that refined ingredients promote obesity, diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. Wikipedia claims, “Ideally, all-natural foods have not been subjected to irradiation, contain no GMO (genetically modified organisms), have not been sterilized, and do not contain animal products that have been subjected to steroids, antibiotics or drugs. The belief being, the closer to nature, the more benefit the consumer receives by eating all natural whole foods”.
The term “whole food” indicates that it does not contain parts of foods, or synthetic or isolated vitamins. Examples of whole foods include raw fruits and vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, spinach, apples, berries, pineapple, bananas, peaches, lemons, Chinese yam, coix fruit, sprouted soybeans, other legumes, nuts, asparagus root, and most food grade herbs, whole grains or plants. Also, an important nutrition fact to remember is that whole foods are usually in their raw state. Once they have been cooked, boiled, pasteurized or heated in any way, they may lose some of their nutrients, thus changing the whole food to a different form.
In today’s fast paced world, not many people have time to prepare or consume enough raw fruits and vegetables to take in all the daily nutritional requirements their bodies need. It is possible to preserve nutrients from plants in their whole food form and prepare them for quick easy consumption. However, it’s hard to find manufacturers who are willing to take the necessary steps and pay the price to prepare foods in that way. There are some excellent all natural foods that have been prepared with minimal processing and at lower temperatures for easy, convenient consumption, but you have to search the Internet to find those all natural foods that fulfill our nutritional requirements. Those types of prepared foods and health and nutritional supplement products make it easier to be certain you are taking in enough nutrients each day to keep your body operating at peak levels of health and fitness.
A diet based on fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes left in as natural a state as possible has many health advantages:
- Whole foods are rich in bioflavonoids and phytochemicals—powerful nutrients found in plants.
- Compared with processed foods, whole foods contain more complex carbohydrates, natural antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and essential nutrients.
- All natural whole foods are often high fiber foods with more beneficial fats.
The combinations of nutrients in whole plant foods act synergistically to keep the human body functioning the way it was originally designed. So, when you are shopping for healthy foods that are quick and easy to prepare, check the label carefully to avoid an excess of man made synthetic ingredients. Better yet, check the Internet for all natural foods not available in stores. Your body will appreciate it.
