Some the biggest culprits of bad health—and possibly among the causes of diabetes—are processed foods.

What exactly is “processed” food? Well, for starters, it’s any raw, natural food that has been changed or altered from its original state (think raw milk from a cow) and turned into a food-like item for the sake of convenience and sometimes safety (think pasteurized milk). In some instances, like raw milk, it is often better to process food to prevent disease and bacteria. However, more and more food is being processed not for safety, but convenience. An apple turned into a prepackaged apple pie is one example of when processing goes too far. Grapes transformed into sugary grape juice is another example. Hot dogs and deli meats with added nitrates; cereals with added sugars; and food items loaded with sugar, artificial sweeteners, trans-fats, sugar substitutes, man-made chemical additives, high-fructose corn syrup and carbohydrates are all examples of America’s obsession with processing. And sadly, these types of foods cause an increased risk of diabetes. (more…)