Health Benefits of Natural Foods

The term "natural" gets thrown around a lot these days. From food product labels to chefs, there seems to be a belief that anything "natural" is "good." That leads the savvy consumer to ask what "natural" really means.
Legally, food labeled "natural" does not contain any artificial ingredients, coloring ingredients, or chemical preservatives, and, in the case of meat and poultry, is "minimally processed." Sounds good. But what does all that really mean?
Meat from animals treated with artificial hormones can (and is) labeled "natural," as is meat injected with saline solution (claimed to add flavor, which it does, but it also adds considerable weight to a product sold by the pound). For more about meat labeling, Similarly, foods containing "natural flavors," such as processed proteins that you may or may not consider desirable, can legally sport the label "natural."

In short, the "natural" label on food means something and there are guidelines about which foods can be labelled "natural," but they aren't very stringent. For people interested in pure foods and minimally processed or unprocessed foods, the "natural" label probably won't tell you what you want to know. Be sure to read the label for more information.
A growing body of research shows that fruits and vegetables are critical to promoting good health. To get the amount that's recommended, most people need to increase the amount of fruits and vegetables they currently eat every day.

Fruits and vegetables contain essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber that may help protect you from chronic diseases. Compared with people who consume a diet with only small amounts of fruits and vegetables, those who eat more generous amounts as part of a healthful diet are likely to have reduced risk of chronic diseases, including stroke and perhaps other cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancer.

Nutrients should come primarily from foods. Foods such as fruits and vegetables contain not only the vitamins and minerals that are often found in supplements, but also other naturally occurring substances that may help protect you from chronic diseases.