These are the things happening to your body when you stop eating processed foods
PROCESSED FOODS – When you stop eating foods that are being processed such as hotdog, cereals, tinned vegetables, and many more, these things can happen to your body.
You feel worse but better later
According to Deborah Malkoff-Cohen, MS, RD, CDN, CDE, if you cut down your intake of processed food, you may experience anxiety, bloating, cravings, and headaches, among others, at first. In order for your body to get used to the lack of sugar, salt, and other added ingredients, these symptoms might manifest. Malkoff-Cohen added that these are the typical symptoms of sugar withdrawal and this will “depend on how processed your diet currently is and how sugar-addicted you are.”
Eventually, your mood will improve
According to the article from The Healthy, the lesser you eat this kind of food, the better your mood will be. Heavily processed, refined carbohydrates, and sugary foods are absorbed by the digestive tract rapidly after eating. With this, you can experience spikes and dips in blood sugar if you don’t also eat fiber or a balance of other nutrients to help slow the rate of absorption, according to Malina Linkas Malkani, MS, RDN, CDN, media spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Carol Aguirre, MS, RD/LDN added that “high fructose corn syrup, sugar, and artificial ingredients stimulate the release of a mood-boosting neurotransmitter called serotonin.” She also said the lower level of serotonin mimics the signs of depression.
Better concentration
This kind of food usually contains a high amount of sugar or fructose corn syrup but the brain needs natural sugar from fruits and vegetables to work properly. “Having low blood sugar—common after a sugar crash—can cause anxiety, heart palpitations, and fatigue, which can all make it next to impossible to focus and complete tasks,” Dr. Aguirre explained.
Less bloated
Cutting out the high-sodium ingredients in these foods has a positive impact on belly bloat. Based on the article, taking a high amount of sodium can cause water retention.
Flavor sensitivity could change
According to a study, people who had a low-sodium diet eventually preferred eating foods that are less salty and when they tasted regular salty foods that became too salty for them.
Sleep better
When you avoid refined and processed foods such as sodas and cereals, you are keeping your blood sugar steady and this will result in having a better sleep.
Improve digestive health
“Fiber helps bulk up stool and keep it traveling through the intestines, preventing constipation,” Dr. Malkani said. This substance that is good for digestion is not found in processed foods.
Lower the risk for health issues
Reducing this kind of food, in a long-term scenario, can reduce cholesterol, blood pressure, and risk of cancer as well as decrease inflammation, and risk of fatty liver and heart diseases, according to Dr. Malkoff-Cohen.
You could lose weight and your skin could clear up
Processed foods do not have the nutrients your body needs that will help fill you up. As a result, you tend to binge. Researchers found that foods in their natural state have a positive impact on the skin in terms of acne and inflammation, a published review stated.
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