HealthyFABness: 101 Reasons to Quit Eating Processed Foods

It’s almost impossible to go to the market without coming back with something in a box, bag, can or jar. The simplicity of eliminating steps in preparing our food is now commonplace. We cut corners because food manufacturers make it so unbelievably easy and cheap to do so. Certainly some processed foods are safer than others, and most of us recognize how truly lucky we are to have so many options at our fingertips. And that’s just the point: When we change our food habits, we change the world.It may seem as if processed food only affects our health, but there’s a much bigger impact…and all the more reason for us to cut processed foods out for good. Need a little motivation in making the shift to a truly whole foods diet? Here are 101 reasons to stop eating processed foods…forever.



  1. Genetically modified ingredients are found in approximately 80 percent of processed foods
  2. They’ve been linked to cancer
  3. Stomach issues
  4. Environmental destruction
  5. Corporate greed
  6. GMO salmon may soon be in our food supply
  7. GMO sugar beets already are
  8. So is GMO corn
  9. GMO soy
  10. GMO canola
  11. GMO cottonseed oil
  12. And GMO alfalfa
  13. As well as GMO squash
  14. GMO papayas
  15. And soon GMO apples
  16. GMO pineapples
  17. Pesticide residue is found in many processed foods
  18. Pesticides cause neurological disorders
  19. Reproductive disorders
  20. And developmental problems in young children
  21. They may be killing off our important bee populations
  22. And birds
  23. And bats
  24. And dragonflies
  25. Artificial colors cause behavior issues
  26. Artificial flavors do too
  27. Like MSG
  28. High fructose corn syrup is genetically modified
  29. It spikes blood sugar levels
  30. Chemical preservatives are as yucky as they sound
  31. Carrageenan causes cancer and digestive disturbances
  32. What is Butylated Hydroxyanisole? Why would you eat something named that?
  33. Conventional eggs can contain salmonella
  34. And the hens were treated like horrible, worthless slaves
  35. Growth hormone rGBH is in many processed dairy foods
  36. Growth hormones in dairy cause hormone problems in the people who consume them
  37. Carmine—a red coloring—comes from bug shells
  38. Most raspberry flavoring comes from a gland extracted from a beaver’s anus
  39. Real food doesn’t need stabilizers
  40. Or anti-caking agents
  41. Mad Cow Disease
  42. Pink Slime
  43. Meat Glue
  44. Avian Flu
  45. Swine Flu
  46. Nanoparticles
  47. Refined grains cause health problems
  48. Packaging waste
  49. Packaging toxins
  50. Gelatin comes from pig hooves
  51. Bug particles are common in processed foods
  52. Excessive sodium causes high blood pressure
  53. And heart disease
  54. Excessive fat clogs arteries
  55. Especially trans fats
  56. Hydrogenated oils
  57. Fractionated oils
  58. Confectioner’s glaze comes from beetles
  59. Nitrites cause cancer
  60. Sodium benzoate is toxic
  61. Brominated vegetable oil is too
  62. Processed food is made by machines
  63. And poorly paid workers
  64. The world’s top food manufacturers destroy rainforests
  65. They require long hours
  66. Employ child labor
  67. And lie about their impact on the planet
  68. You’re usually paying for big brand marketing efforts rather than quality ingredients
  69. Subsidies are given to giant corporations while small farmers struggle to stay in business
  70. Monsanto and other biotech companies were just granted “immunity from the courts” so they can push out GMOs even if a judge says they can’t
  71. Processed foods are meant to sit on shelves for months or longer
  72. Processed foods use a lot of fossil fuels in production and transport
  73. Factories cause pollution
  74. Food in packages causes food waste—a $100-billion-a-year problem
  75. Sugar consumption causes diabetes
  76. And obesity
  77. And behavioral disorders
  78. And skin conditions
  79. And more health problems
  80. Hidden gluten
  81. Hidden soy
  82. Hidden animal fat
  83. It’s not food made with love
  84. Fresh food tastes better
  85. Fresh food is more recognizable by your body
  86. When you make it yourself, you enjoy it more
  87. When someone cooks for you, it’s a gift of love and kindness
  88. We are what we eat
  89. And what we eat eats, too
  90. There are more nutrients in food made from scratch
  91. And more water
  92. And more fiber
  93. And more antioxidants
  94. Meals made from scratch are unique one-of-a-kind works of art
  95. Foods made in factories always taste the same
  96. Microwaves destroy food
  97. Cooking is interactive
  98. It’s stimulating
  99. It’s fun
  100. Anyone can do it
  101. Even you.
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