Processed foods like chips, sodas and frozen pizzas are full of salt, sugar, and fat. Now, scientists are trying to understand if there is something else about such foods that may be bad for humans.

The researchers created a system that places foods into four groups. The system says highly processed foods are made mostly of industrialized materials and additives (添加剂). Sodas, packaged cookies, instant noodles and chicken nuggets (鸡肉块) are some examples of highly processed foods. But also included are products that can seem healthy, such as morning cereals, energy bars and some kinds of yogurt.

Researchers conducted a four-week study involving 20 people. They found that people ate about 500 more calories a day when fed mostly processed foods. That is compared to when the same people were given less processed foods. The researchers permitted the 20 participants to cat as much or as little as they wanted. They were taken to a medical center so their health and behavior could be observed. In another study, researchers in France found people who ate more processed foods were more likely to have heart disease. A similar study in Spain linked eating more processed foods to a higher risk of death in general.

The scientists also found that people ate processed foods more quickly. Kevin Hall is one of the researchers who led the study. He said that processed foods were usually softer and easier to chew and swallow. Hall noted the source of nutrients might make a difference. For example, fiber from fruit and vegetables may be better for making people feel full than fiber added to packaged foods such as energy bars and yogurt.

Avoiding processed foods can be hard, especially for people with limited time and money. Processed foods can also take many forms. In addition, companies continually re-engineer products to make them seem healthier. The newest studies may provide more reasons to avoid processed foods. But, they also call attention to the difficulty of coming up with ways to do that.

Farm to school events are taking place nationwide this month. The events are aimed at bringing fresh food to students’ plates.

Students in Watkins Elementary grow vegetables in their school garden. They excitedly prepare for FRESHFARM classes held in the school’s kitchen. In one such class, children joyfully cut and cook freshly harvested vegetables, filling the air with their sweet smell. Regina Green, a coach of the class, stresses, “Teaching nutrition (营养) without a kitchen is like swimming lessons without a pool.” The students at Watkins Elementary are fortunate to have access to such a kitchen with various cooking tools.

At a time when diet-related diseases are a leading cause of death, it’s impossible for a cooking program to solve such a social problem. It needs many things to come together to support healthy eating. In promoting healthy eating, various factors must be considered. Among the challenges is the marketing of unhealthy products. Often there’s easy access to snacks and children’s taste preferences are shaped by the foods that are around them.

Despite these challenges, programs like FRESHFARM play an important role in encouraging children to explore new tastes. At first, many kids were turned off by the bitter taste of greens. But through different cooking ways, many kids become inspired.

The excitement of 5th graders is obvious as they happily taste the biscuits they’ve made, winning over many of their classmates. Catie Kelley, whose children have taken part in the program, shares, “Our family has new cooking experiences because of the program. The kids bring home recipes (食谱) that introduce us to dishes we don’t usually make. They show more interest at the store in identifying foods they’ve tried in the program.”

It is hoped that such school programs can arm children with the skills and inspiration needed to make healthy food choices, setting them on a path towards health in every way.

The weather is getting hotter. You are thirsty playing basketball or riding home from school. A cold drink may be just the thing. But be careful what you are drinking. Something that looks cool may not be good for your health. There are plenty of “energy drinks” on the market. Most of them have beautiful colors and cool names. The lists on them tell you they are helpful to your health. Sounds great!

But after a careful check you may find that most energy drinks have lots of caffeine(咖啡因) in them. These drinks are especially aimed at young people, students, busy people and sports players. Makers sometimes say their drinks make you better at sports and can keep you awake.But be careful not to drink too much. Caffeine makes your heart beat fast. Because of this, the International Olympic Committee(OC) has limited(限制) its use. Caffeine in most energy drinks is at least as strong as that in a cup of coffee or tea. Possible health dangers have something to do with energy drinks. Just one box of energy drink can make you nervous, have difficulty sleeping and can even cause heart problems.Scientists say that teenagers should be discouraged from taking drinks with a lot of caffeine in them.