Nutrition is an essential aspect of our health; therefore, we must learn to choose products that are beneficial to us, which have high nutritional value and help the body to function properly.

One of the important challenges we are witnessing today is the consumption of processed or ultra-processed foods. In the category of processed food, we can fit any food that during cooking has been modified to last longer on the shelf, to have a lower cost or to become tastier. These products are characterized by high levels of sugar, fat and cholesterol, which have adverse effects on the health of those who consume them, increasing the risk of obesity, heart disease, and cancer.

Is there a direct link between processed food and weight gain?

Eating processed or ultra-processed foods will inevitably lead to weight gain. This is due to his fact that they can be eaten quickly and are little nutritious, which is why it increases the risk of consuming a larger amount of food than it really needs. People who have such a regime accumulate 500 calories more per day than people who do not always eat processed foods. Because of this, in less than a month, these people can gain weight by about 1 kilogram.

Why is processed food dangerous for the body?

Chemical modification of the composition of products by adding sugar, preservatives, flavors or dyes can have negative effects on metabolism. These additives are intended to make the products accessible to everyone through a low price, but also to provide them with a long shelf life. At the same time, it can result in a state of dependence, by changing the biochemical structure of the brain, as a result of which a person feels a constant need to consume the product.

Consumption of an exaggerated amount of chemically modified products can lead to obesity due to excessive sugar. This is a cause of an increase in the level of triglycerides and cholesterol, the development of insulin resistance and adipose tissue around the abdomen. In turn, obesity is the cause of conditions that can have extremely serious consequences, such as:

• Type 2 diabetes caused by too much blood sugar

• High blood pressure

• Stroke

• Cancer

• Cardiac disorders

Food devoid of nutritional value, poor in vitamins, fiber or protein, affects the body on several levels. The functions of the body do not perform correctly, which will favor the appearance of certain medical conditions. Private health insurance can be a very useful form of prevention because it provides access to the best services at home and abroad.