An old proverb states that “you are what you eat.” Today, this would suggest that, as a result of our diets, we are full of chemicals, hormones, and artificial substances that are injected into foods to make them bigger, prettier, and longer-lasting. Some people believe that this is making us unhealthy and should be stopped. Others believe that food today is part of the reason we have an increased life expectancy. Which opinion do you agree with? How a person can maintain a healthy diet despite the use of these chemicals?

Most modern supermarkets in the industrialized world present dazzling displays of fresh produce. Yet, these perfect-looking products are a direct result of preservatives, which some argue are killing us. Others suggest they actually increase our longevity. I subscribe to the latter argument, though with the understanding that ingesting too much of additives is unhealthy; furthermore, as this essay will demonstrate, there are certainly ways to eat nutritious meals. Firstly, one must consider the variety of fresh foods available nowadays. What used to be available only regionally and seasonally is now available everywhere and year-round because of the unnatural inclusions that protect it during transport to far-off places. As a result, our diets have changed significantly; for example, research has shown that children now eat more fruits and vegetables because they have a variety to choose from. Moreover, before the introduction of these preservatives, foods would rot quickly, often leading people to eat expired products that made them ill. The addition of certain elements into foods extends their shelf life while retaining their nutrient content and preventing the growth of harmful bacteria. In the long run, this has contributed to our increased health. That being said, there are different categories of additives, including those that are harmful if consumed in large amounts. This is especially true of processed foods like meats and cereals that use dyes and flavor enhancers, which certainly do not contain nutrients. However, since we can choose what we ingest, we should opt for items such as organic foods and farm-fresh products, and we should avoid artificial foods that do not provide us with nutrition. In other words, we have the ability to maintain our health if we just need to choose to do so. Ultimately, the fact that we are living longer these days, despite the increased use of food additives, is proof that, given proper attention, the quality of foods available to us today is in fact beneficial.