﻿ Worldwide School » Misconceptions about Health Food

If you think that eating raw (rather than cooked) vegetables is healthier, or that all brown bread is more wholesome, you need to check this out.






  • raw – not cooked
  • digestion – break down (food) in the alimentary canal into substances that can be absorbed and used by the body
  • aid – help or support (someone or something) in the achievement of something
  • flour – a powder obtained by grinding grain, typically wheat, and used to make bread, cakes, and pastry
  • dye – a natural or synthetic substance used to add a colour to or change the colour of something
  • artificial – made or produced by human beings rather than occurring naturally, especially as a copy of something natural
  • rule of thumb – a broadly accurate guide or principle, based on practice rather than theory


Think about it

Answer the questions below.

  • Is raw food good for your digestion?
  • What kind of bread is really healthy?
  • Do artificial sweeteners really promote weight loss?
  • What does the “natural” label really mean?
  • How is agave nectar different from other sweeteners?
  • Is margarine healthier than butter?
  • What is the reason why some eggs are white and others brown?
  • Is brown sugar healthier than white sugar? Why? Why not?


Practice makes perfect


Organic foods are foods produced ________ methods that comply ________ the standards of organic farming. Standards vary worldwide; however, organic farming ________ general, features practices that strive ________ foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity. Organizations regulating organic products may choose to restrict ________ use of certain pesticides and fertilizers in farming. In general, organic foods are also usually ________ processed using irradiation, industrial solvents or synthetic food additives.

Currently, ________ European Union, ________ United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan, and many other countries require producers to obtain special certification in ________  to market food as organic, within their borders. In ________ context of these regulations, organic food is food produced in ________ way that complies with organic standards set by national governments and international organizations. Although the produce of kitchen gardens may be organic, selling food ________ the organic label is regulated by governmental food safety authorities, such as the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) or European Commission.

There is ________ sufficient evidence in medical literature to support claims that organic food is safer or healthier than conventionally grown food. While there may be some differences in the nutrient and anti-nutrient contents of organically and conventionally produced food, the variable nature of food production and handling ________ it difficult to generalize results. Claims that organic food tastes better are generally not supported ________ evidence.



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