Project Web

Talin Kahvedjian

April 27, 2012

English 113B

Professor Reynolds

The Damages of Processed Food

When we think about processed food or just hear the words, we automatically think of fast food. Why? That’s because we are trained to learn that fast food is unhealthy which means processed food. What does processed food actually mean without adding fast food to the meaning? Processed food is any kind of food that goes through chemical action to change the original food. Are processed foods edible? Of course they are but it is harmful. Processed food is harmful to the body by causing high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer, not only to adult but also to children.

A quote from livestrong states, “Manufacturers include sodium in their processed products because it slows the growth of bacteria” Water goes from lower concentration of solute to higher concentrate of solute. If the meat is full of salt, the fluid of bacteria will move out the organism. The bacteria will shrink and die from loosing the fluid because the bacteria is not used to living in that kind of environment. Therefore, people are consuming a lot of salt and it causes them to have high blood pressure, heart problems. Also, causing dementia and the main problem, cancer. An article written by Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar in the Los Angeles Times states, “More than 75% of the salt the average American consumes comes from processed foods and restaurant meals.” It is very shocking to see that high of a percentage of Americans consuming salt.

Surprisingly salt is not the only cause for cancer; the red meat can also cause cancer. Reading an article from the California State University of Northridge library, Joseph E. Scherger states “the relative risk of colon cancer was 1.50 for red meat consumption and 1.53 for processed meat consumption in the highest tertile groups compared with the lowest tertile eating more poultry and fish.” Red meat and processed foods have numerous chemicals such as nitrates, nitrites, and trans fat; it causes the stomach to not completely digest the food. The food builds up in the body, after a while it will cause an infection and turn into cancer.

As if processed foods cannot get unhealthier specialist found Escherichia Coli, E Colie, in chicken. E coli is bacteria found in humans and animals. ''Most consumers do not realize that feces are in the chicken products they purchase”, Dr. Neal D. Barnard stated in a New York Times article. The chickens are kept in a filthy slaughterhouse, where they are feed with antibiotics. Clearly, scientists should have seen this coming a long time ago. Also, reading the article Understanding E Coli from CBC News Health, “Fruits and vegetables that grow close to the ground are susceptible to E. coli contamination” We all assume that fruits and vegetable are the healthiest food we can eat. Fruits and vegetables are grown on soil in dirt; little insects can crawl into the plants and grow E Coli.

Have you ever wondered why meat looks fresh and red? Reading Barlings Diet Book Mannie states, “Nitrates/nitrites have been added to meat largely for their preservative qualities. When applied to the exterior of packaged meat cuts, the meat stays red for a long period of time.” Nitrate is put in meat to stop the poison and if the nitrate does not work on the meat then the sodium nitrite will stop the poison in your own body. That’s the reason why there is so much salt in process foods, to stop the poison. Nitrates and nitrites are not the only chemicals added to make the meat look fresher. Manufacturers also put carbon monoxide gas. Without all these chemicals the meat would turn brown after 24 hours.

In conclusion, processed foods are ingredients made up of chemicals that can be harmful to your body. Escherichia Coli can harm your immune system, your body cannot digest nitrates and trans fat put in the meat, therefore, it builds up and cause colon cancer. The amount of sodium in processed foods also causes cancer.

Work Citation

"The Disadvantages of Processed Foods." LIVESTRONG.COM. Web. 23 Apr. 2012

29, November. Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 29 Nov. 2007. Web. 23 Apr.

"Food Processing: A History." Anniversary. Web. 24 Apr. 2012.

Sodium Nitrite – Another Synthetic Chemical Hidden in Clean Labels – Is a Deceptive Marketing Practice Used by the Food Industry to Paint Your GMO Bt Corn-fed, Factory Farmed Meat Red While Leading to Heart Disease, Diabetes and Cancer |. Web. 26 Apr. 2012

"Diet and Colon Cancer: Meat Takes a Hit." Internal Medicine Alert 15 Feb. 2005. General OneFile. Web. 26 Apr. 2012.

Strom, Stephanie. "48% of Chicken in Small Sample Has E. Coli." New York Times 12 Apr. 2012: B2(L). General OneFile. Web. 26 Apr. 2012.

News, CBC. "Understanding E. Coli: Symptoms, Spread, Prevention." CBCnews. CBC/Radio Canada, 05 July 2011. Web. 26 Apr. 2012.