Side Effects Of Frozen Foods You Should Know

Most people prefer frozen foods because their convenient and they save stress of going to look for the raw food over and over again but there are some key disadvantages of frozen food that you should know before buying them. Some of them are discussed below;

Sodium Overload

Frozen foods, especially prepared meals are often high in sodium. Excess sodium can lead to high blood pressure, which is linked to heart disease and stroke.

Fat and Calories

Some frozen dinners are very high in fat. Because fat contains twice the number of calories compared to carbohydrates or protein, this often makes frozen dinners high in calories, by default. No more than 20 percent to 35 percent of your total calories should come from fat, according to the publication, “Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010.”

Diet-Unfriendly Fare

Although diet frozen dinners are marketed as helpful for weight loss and proper nutrition, they may do more harm than good, according to registered dietitian Karen Collins. Collins notes that these meals, which often have fewer than 300 calories each, won’t sustain you for long, compelling you to reach for high-calorie snacks soon after you eat them. Collins also reports that such meals are typically too short on fruits, vegetables and grains to provide the nutritional balance you need for optimal health.

Choosing Wisely

While frozen foods are not off-limits, finding healthy options requires that you regularly check nutrition labels, recommends the American Diabetes Association. You should choose frozen dinners that have 500 or fewer calories and 600 or fewer milligrams of sodium. The association also recommends that you should consume products that have 3 or fewer grams of saturated fat, because too much saturated fat is linked to heart disease. Look for choices that have whole grains, such as brown rice or whole-wheat pasta, and that also include a colorful array of vegetables and fruits.