We may think the foods we consume are in fact good for us. In fact, they taste good. They are delivered fast. And, nobody wants to hurt us, do they?

Still, it may astonish you to learn that our food industry is a profit making segment of our society. They fight for every last dollar they can get. Their stockholders have an interest in the highest rate of return on their investment. The pressure, as a result, is on the food industry to supply a product that is both delicious to keep you coming back for more and profitable at the same time.

Nutrition is not uppermost in the judgment of the stockholders or the food manufacturers. But, it must be critical to you because your health and life depend on you getting good food.

So, this brings us to some features of good, nutritious food. Good foods have these 4 characteristics:

1) Good foods retain their nutrient qualities. This means they undergo as little processing as possible. Processing frequently removes fiber and other vitamins and minerals from whole foods. White flour, for instance, has the healthful bran and germ removed. This produces a more "pure" looking product with a higher concentration of calories and a higher glycemic index. White flour is used to make most baked goods. You should recognize that a great many of these processed foods have had nutritional components eliminated.

2) Good foods do not have refined carbohydrates, particularly sugar, added to them. Seemingly healthful foods, like multi-grain cereals, almost always have several forms of sugar added to make them more appetizing. All the sugars and sugar alternatives lack nutritional value and may cause harm.

Sugars help make people fat and have been associated with numerous diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart conditions, hypertension, osteoarthritis and some cancers. There is probably no valid health reason for consuming foods with added sugar.

3) Good foods do not have chemicals, hormones, antibiotics or drugs added to them. Fertilizers, pesticides, growth hormones are a minor part in any particular meal we consume. But, the endless introduction of these chemicals into our bodies produces concern in some circles. The European Union has banned growth hormones in beef production because of potential human health risks. A Consumer Reports investigation found unsafe amounts of pesticides on some fresh produce, including items grown in the United States.

4) Good foods are combined together to deliver all of the essential vitamins, minerals and fiber for a hearty diet. To grow healthy we need the proper nutrients every day. These include vitamins, minerals, fiber and complete protein. Eating foods for the reason that they taste good and are convenient will probably not supply optimal nutrition.

In general, each of us needs to examine our diets to cut back on processed foods and manufactured foods with refined carbohydrates. Organically grown fruits, vegetables, and meats help eliminate contaminants that can lead to health issues. And, we must learn to combine foods in a systematic way to produce optimal nutrition. These action steps allow more good food into our bodies and result in better health and a longer life.

Fast foods having high concentrations of fats and sugars are not healthy. They help fuel the weight loss and medical industries. The lead to medical problems such as diabetes and high cholesterol and heart disease. People go on diets to defeat the effects of what they eat every day. Simply eating nutritious foods can improve health and save money on supplements and medicines.

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