We know by now that the only way to achieve a truly healthy diet is to greatly minimize your consumption of processed foods. With that said there will always be some processed foods that make their way into your diet, be it bread, cereal, a jar of preserves, or whatever, but as long as these products are minimally processed, contain no preservatives or additives, consist of all natural organic ingredients, and are consumed in moderation than you’re on the right track.
It's important to keep in mind though that when it comes down to it processed is processed. The more "processes" a food undergoes before it reaches your table the less nutritious the food becomes, and knowing this is the difference between a healthy person and an unhealthy person. Processed food should never be looked at as healthy food, some processed foods are healthier than others no doubt, but they should never be the main source of nutrients in your diet.
Let’s take lemon/lime juice as an example (only because I bought some the other day). Many recipes call for one or the other, and although using a fresh organic lemon (or lime) will always yield the best flavor sometimes it is not practical to have them on hand (off season for instance). So many people will have some pre-squeezed and pre-packaged lemon/lime juice in the fridge; I know I do. I also know that this organic processed food is really only good for one thing... flavor, and this becomes evident upon reading the label on the container.
Although it is made from organic lemons (or limes), it was made in Brazil and bottled in Switzerland. So by the time this product makes it all the way to the shelf of your local grocery store (and ultimately into your favorite recipe) it holds very little nutritional value, but at least you can rest assured knowing it doesn't contain pesticides and herbicides and trust me that's a good thing.
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