Processed Foods - When people hear the word "processed food" there is immediately the notion that it is bad for the health. However, a new report claims that the term "processed" varies widely and that some processed food are actually good for us.

In a recent report by The Daily Mail, nutritionists and dietitians have claimed that some foods are needed to be processed to make them safe enough for people to consume.

"Many people wrongly assume that the term processed foods only applies to microwave meals and other ready meals," Helen Bond, dietitian and spokeswoman for the British Dietetic Association, told MailOnline.

However by NHS Choices definition, "processed food concerns any food that has been altered from its natural state in some way."

Therefore, foods which have undergone freezing, canning, baking, drying and pasteurising processes can all count as processed food, according to The Inquisitr.

"This means that we may all be eating more processed food than we realise," Bond added. "'It's important to remember that the term "processed" applies to a very broad range of foods, many of which can be eaten as part of a healthy, balanced diet."

"Indeed, most shop-bought foods will have been processed in some way and therefore are considered processed foods," she further said, reassuring that "processed foods can be healthy.'

It is a widespread, but incorrect, assumption that when it comes to fruit and vegetables, 'fresh is always best.'" 

Good Processed Foods Include:

• MILK - Milk needs to be pasteurized in order to kill bacteria. It also needs to be homogenized to help keep fats from separating.
• BREAKFAST CEREALS - Considered good only if made with 100-percent whole grain and fortified with additional nutrients. Those that contain sugar are not healthy.
• FRUIT AND VEGETABLES - Fruits and vegetables have their vitamins destroyed as soon as they are picked. They need to be frozen so vitamins have less time to be destroyed and for their nutrients to be preserved. Freezing also makes the foodconvenient to store, cook and consume throughout the year.
• TINNED TOMATOES - Canned tomatoes have reportedly more lycopene than fresh tomatoes. Lycopene is known to protect against certain types of cancers. The canning process helps break down the tough cell walls, therefore releasing the lycopene and helps for better absorption by the body.
• FRUIT AND VEGETABLE JUICES - Only some juices are healthy, such as those brands of orange juice with fortified with calcium. Brands with added sugars or those high in sodium are unhealthy.
• OATMEAL,FROZEN FISH AND SEAFOOD - Examples include canned salmon and tuna. Fish sticks or breaded varieties aren't included.
• DRIED FRUITS,ROASTED NUTS AND SEEDS,AND 100-PERCENT WHOLE GRAIN BREAD

However, processed food by nature often mean higher levels of sodium, sugar and fat. Most are generally low in vitamins and minerals, therefore eating too much is not only bad for the waistline, but bad for the overall health, according to About Health.

Bad Processed Foods Include:

• Canned foods with large amounts of sodium or fat
• Pasta with refined white flour insteadof whole grains
• Packaged high-calorie snack foods like chips and candies
• Frozen fish sticks and frozen dinners high in sodium
• Packaged cakes and cookies
• Boxed meal mixes high in fat and sodium
• Sugary breakfast cereals
• Processed meats

According to Bond, the trick lies in reading the ingredients label, as well as watching for high levels of additives which include, but are not limited to, sugar and salt.

She adds that it is important to simply ration the amount of processed meat in one's diet. Eating more that 90g of red and processed meat a day has reportedly been linked to cancers of the colon or rectum - bowel cancer.

According to the Department of Health, it is advisable not to eat more than 70g of red and processed meat a day a day to cut risks of cancer.

In the end, before buying your food in the supermarket, check the label, ingredients and ask yourself "What will this food do to my body in the long run?"