Canned foods: good or bad?

Canned foods are common in our diet, since they are clean and usually get us out of trouble. Ideal for when we don’t have time or desire to cook. But is it better to consume food this way? Much has been said about canned foods, and in most cases in a negative way. At Vitónica we are going to try to give a broader vision of the pros and cons of consuming canned foods. And not everything is bad, nor everything good. How are they produced? First of all, we must know that preserves are made from fresh raw materials. That is, quality foods that, after being subjected to a specific thermal process, are packaged so that they remain in perfect condition for longer. So that they can be consumed whenever the customer wants. It is a good way to eat foods that we would not otherwise eat. When the food is subjected to the temperatures necessary for packaging, it can lose many of its properties, such as vitamins… But on the other hand, it keeps others intact for longer or increases them, such as essential fatty acids, which are found in a greater proportion in canned fish than in fresh pieces. It is true that a fresh food will always contain more vitamins than a canned one. But the level of minerals increases in preserves. Specifically, sodium can be up to five times higher than in fresh foods. This is because salt is used as a preservative in most canning processes, especially in pickled preserves. This excess sodium can be harmful in people who suffer from hypertension. In canned fish in oil the c The concentration of fatty acids is higher than in fresh specimens. And by adding oils, omega 3 fats are increased and vitamin B3 also increases, thus improving our cholesterol levels. Of course, this type of preserves contains more calories and fat than fresh foods, since fats are added to the existing ones. Another point that we must take into account is that specifically fish such as tuna and sardines that are consumed in canned form have better assimilation of proteins by our body. Although it is true that they contain less amounts of the rest of the nutrients. In addition, canned foods tend to have a higher caloric intake than natural foods. Of course, canned foods are a good solution to eat quickly. Although it should not be a norm if we want to maintain balanced nutritional values ​​and avoid organic imbalances. A tip for those who consume canned foods is to try to choose those that do not contain oils or salts. Well, the calorie and sodium intake will be lower. Finally a note; There are many people who think that cans also transmit heavy metals that are harmful to health to food. This is not true. The containers are fully controlled and contain substances that are in no way harmful to our health.