Are Canned Foods Good For Your Health?

Are Canned Foods Good For Your Health?

The general train of thought when it comes to canned foods is that they are somehow less nutritious than their fresh or frozen counterparts. There are many people who believe that canned food is generally bad for your health. However, they don’t really have any scientific data to support this claim.

This begs the question: is canned food good for your health? Well, the idea that it’s bad for your health isn’t entirely true but does find its roots somewhere, and the idea that they might actually be good for your health is probably one that most people don’t even consider. They can be a bit of both, honestly, and that depends on how you consume it.

What Are Canned Foods?

Canning is the process of storing food in an air-tight container. This is achieved by following a three-step process: processing, sealing and heating. The process allows canned foods to have a shelf life of around 5 years longer than fresh foods, which makes canned foods a very attractive product for most consumers. Canned foods usually include fruits, vegetables, soups and meat.

Effects of Canning

Contrary to popular belief, canning actually doesn’t affect the nutrition levels of the proteins, carbohydrates, fat content, amount of minerals and fat-soluble vitamins present in the food. However, the heating process of canning does affect water-soluble vitamins like vitamin C and B.

Canning does increase the anti-oxidant levels of certain food items like tomatoes, which actually make them very healthy to consume. Canning also involves the use of sodium and sugars and other chemical preservatives, which in high doses can cause health problems down the road, such as obesity and diabetes.

The main concern and effect of canned foods are the BPA levels that are present. BPA is a chemical used in food packaging, including canned foods. The chemical, which behaves as a protective barrier against foreign influence, almost always manages to leak into the food itself. BPA consumption in high doses can affect the sex organs, the nervous system and other parts of the body as well and thus, it’s not recommended to have a high intake of the chemical.

Canning

Balance Is Important

As discussed, canned food has a lot of positive factors that make it so popular. They are extremely easy and convenient to use and also very readily available. However, this doesn’t mean that an individual should be basing their diet around canned foods solely.

The key here is balance. To avoid potential health risks, it’s always a smart idea to check the labels to confirm what the ingredients are and to avoid undesirable ones. For example, someone with diabetes having canned foods high in sugar content will be doing a lot more harm than good by choosing those canned foods.

On a general note though, canned foods are not as harmful as they’re made out to be and definitely don’t lack as many nutrients as people would like to believe. Having them in moderation while ensuring you check the labels shouldn’t raise any serious health concerns.

Want to try some delicious canned foods in the form of Japanese snacks or Korean ramen? SFMart offers all sorts of canned delicacies from East Asia! Browse through our online store and check out a wide array of options for all your food and cosmetic needs.

Find something you like? Contact us now at (714) 256-0808!

Ramen: The Ultimate Snack For Student-Life?

Ramen: The Ultimate Snack For Student-Life?

Instant ramen was first invented by Momofuku Ando in the year 1958. Today, it is made in 11 countries and the dish has widened its horizons to the global community.

An inexpensive and hearty snack on its own, ramen has gained increasing popularity over the years. It has become the most favored snack of millions around the world and students in particular, love it as they can quickly ready it in the midst of their busy schedules. You can also customize it as you wish, and make it as tastier or healthier as you want.

Below we will discuss why ramen is the ultimate snack for student life:

It’s Cheap

Let’s be honest, when you’re a student, you’re almost always broke. You struggle with finances, and oftentimes, can’t afford to spend much on food. This is where ramen noodles come in. They’re considerably cheap to buy, and are all things delicious as well. They’re rich in flavor and aroma, and satisfy your appetite in all the right ways.

Instant ramen noodles mean you won’t have to compromise on taste just because you’re eating on a budget.

They’re quick to make

Student life is hectic. You’re always loaded with assignments and lectures and usually have no energy left to cook when you get home. This is where ramen noodles come to the rescue for many students who face exhaustion on a daily basis.

They’re quick to make and require no more than a few minutes. They’re a fast and efficient snack for your laziest days and give you enough time to catch up on sleep or engage in a hobby. They’re also the best comfort food for many people. And we could all use some from time to time. That’s not to say that one should have ramen daily, but spoiling yourself once in a while doesn’t hurt anybody.

They’re dynamic

Ramen are also the perfect snacks for students as they come in an array of different varieties and flavors. When it comes to these delicious noodles, one can experiment with many flavors and can even add a personal touch to them by adding other ingredients.

The four main types of ramen flavors are Shio, Shoyu, Miso, and Tonkotsu. Shio is the conventional flavor of ramen soup, and most Western broths are of this type.

ramen

If you’re a busy student looking to buy Japanese snacks online, we at SFMart.com can help. We offer a range of ramen and other Korean, Chinese, and Japanese grocery products. For more information, call us now at (714) 256-0808.

 

4 Asian Snacks You Have To Try

4 Asian Snacks You Have To Try

Grocery shopping as a child was the most fun because you had to beg your parents to let you indulge in the snacks you just HAD to buy. But as an adult you soon realize, you don’t need anyone’s approval to buy as many snacks as you want. Your pantry never runs out of Ramen and you have no regrets about it.

There’s something about Asian snacks that just appeals to you even more when you’re grocery shopping. If you’ve never tried any Asian, then let us be the first ones to tell you- You’re really missing out! You’ve got all sorts of varieties available to you, whether you want salty or sweet, something that adds texture to your noodles or just tastes divine on its own, you name it.

We compiled a list of all the snacks you need to stock up on to be up to date.

Chinese Rice

Chinese Rice Krispie Treats

With these delicious shrimpy, crunchy bites, you won’t be able to have one and put it down. Ask anyone who had these as a child, the minute you bite into one, you feel like one all over again. They are seasoned in a signature Asian way and remind you of all things good and chewy.

Pocky

It’s impossible for anyone to list their favorite Asian snacks and NOT talk about this one in particular. These are absolutely delicious sticks of biscuit that are covered with just the right amount of cream and come in different flavors like chocolate, strawberry, cookies and cream and matcha. The popular flavors have always been chocolate and strawberry though.

Yan Yan

These are also a crunchy biscuit variety that are a delight to eat. They come with a sort of dipping sauce and somehow the ratio of biscuits to cream is ALWAYS perfect. You can buy chocolate, strawberry and vanilla. One of the popular things to do as a child was to mix the three sauces and eat each biscuit that way. Those who are daring enough, would do it even after growing up, and that’s okay.

Gummy candies

Gummy candies or yummy candies? You decide! This Japanese version of gummy bears style jelly is easily the most satisfying thing to chew on at any given moment. They come in multiple fruity flavors and are very hard to share with others because you just want to eat them all on your own.

Indulge in these Asian snacks for a change and be reminded of your childhood memories. You can buy these Asian snacks on our online grocery store. Visit our website for more information.