1. food and drink

E-Weekly-2/33
Green Earth Movement
An E-Newsletter for the cause of Environment, Peace, Harmony and Justice
Remember - “you and I can decide the future”
JUNK FOOD
A SLOW
POISON
Our health depends on what
we eat daily.
Foods are the building blocks
of every cell in the body. Our
body cells, the building blocks
of our body, are responsible
for the proper functioning of the whole body.
Without adequate nutrition, we cannot expect
ourselves to be healthy. The nutrition comes from
what we eat and drink. It is important, therefore,
to know what is good for our body and what is not.
What is a Junk Food?
Any food that has poor nutritional value is considered
unhealthy and may be called a junk food. A food that is high
in fat, sodium, and/or sugar is known as a junk food. Junk
food is easy to carry, purchase and consume. Generally, a junk
food is given a very attractive appearance by adding food
additives and colors to enhance flavor, texture, appearance,
and increasing long self life. A fast food may also be a junk
food.
WHY JUNK FOOD IS BAD, in other
words IT IS A SLOW POISON?
Junk foods contains higher amount of
fats, sugar, salt,
Artificial colors and preservatives
Sugars, Refined foods, like sugar and plain flour (maida)
based items like white bread and most packaged goods, like
Twinkies and sugar donuts, etc. (Sugar Substitutes)Our
body eventually turns sugars into fat. If you consume just 3
tsp of sugar daily, imagine how much sugar you would have
consumed by the time you are 50 years of age; it will be
about 275 kg !, about 5 time your weight !!
Many junk foods contain artificial
color and preservatives which do
no good for our body, rather they
act like poison. Sweden’s National
Food Administration is a government food safety
agency. With their cooperation a
research was carried out at Stockholm University. The
research showed that baking or frying carbohydraterich foods, such as potatoes or cereals, formed
acrylamide. International Agency for Research on
Cancer, found that acrylamide induces gene
mutations. It is also known to cause damage to the
central and peripheral nervous system.
Higher potential of suffering from health problems: If you are
habituated to eat junk foods almost everyday or very regularly
you are sure to be an overweight or obese person unless you do
a good amount of physical work everyday. There is absolutely no
doubt about that. This overweight or obesity will lead you to
some serious health problems like heart diseases, joint
problems, high blood pressure, type-2 diabetes. Besides those
serious problems they are also responsible for faster tooth
decay, constipation, problems related to digestion and tiredness.
JUNK FOOD IS A REAL THREAT TO CHILDREN
Junk foods are a real threat for the children and
younger age groups: If your children eat too much
junk foods, then you should really control their
food habit. Because if they eat too much junk food
they will eat fewer amount of nutrient foods. This
in turn will result in:
1. Childhood Obesity
One major effect of fast food on children
is carrying excess body fat. Weight gain
Can occur when a child eats fast food,
Since Many fast food meals are very high
In calories, and a child can easily eat more
calories than her body burns in a day. Over time, this caloric
surplus leads to weight gain and eventually obesity. The Penn State
Children's Hospital recommends preventing and treating
childhood obesity by providing your child with sweets and fast
food in only moderation, encouraging your child to eat breakfast
each day to avoid overeating in the afternoon, and providing
healthy snacks to sate hunger. If your child already suffers from
childhood obesity, consult with a physician to determine an
appropriate plan of action to address the health concern.
2. Insulin Resistance
Feeding children a diet rich in fast food can also lead to insulin
resistance. Colorado State University explains that insulin typically helps
control blood sugar -- the release of insulin from the pancreas
encourages your child's cells to take up sugar in their blood, lowering
overall blood sugar levels. Following a poor diet, such as one rich in fast
foods, can decrease cells' sensitivity to insulin, so the release of insulin
is no longer sufficient to lower blood sugar levels. This insulin resistance
can act as a precursor to other diseases in adulthood, including type 2
diabetes. Limiting your child's fast food intake and improving his diet
may help improve insulin responsiveness and help prevent the
development of diabetes in the future.
3. Difficulties at School
Eating a diet rich in fast foods can also affect your child's
performance at school. The brain
relies on proper fuel as a source of
energy, as well as a range of
nutrients that facilitate learning and
memory. A fast food diet may lead to
nutrient deficiencies, meaning your
child's brain does not have the tools to learn effectively.
Virginia Tech recommends Packing a nutritious lunch for your
child -- and offering an alternative to a cafeteria fast food
lunch -- since a healthy lunch composed of proteins, dairy
products, grains, fruits and vegetables can increase a child's
attention span and positively affect her academic
performance.
Junk Food & Cholesterol
Fried and processed food, particularly fast food, contains high
amounts of oxycholesterol, Reports Scientists from China in
the National Meeting of the American Chemical Society in
August 2009. Oxycholesterol is a little-known type of
cholesterol which may prove to be the lethal to heart health.
A healthy diet rich in antioxidants can counter these effects.
Fats & Hydrogenated oils
They are found in cookies, chips, candy bars,
fried foods, muffins, bologna, etc. etc. Many
snacks, such as potato chips, cheeseburgers
and fries, have high levels of fat, sugar or
salt-ingredients that are usually best limited
to a small portion of your diet. The saturated fat mainly
comes from animal products. Remember there is nothing that
is useful for our body in foods with hydrogenated or trans fat.
The excessive fats stick to our arteries and cause the
blockages leading to heart disease and strokes. They can also
aid to cancer, arthritis, PMS and sexual dysfunction.
Some fats like Omega-3 fatty acids are good for our bodies.
Salt
Excessive salt is not good for our body (Daily
Salt Recommendation). However, sodium in
moderate amount, along with potassium,
maintains the water balance in our body. But
too much sodium can cause high blood
pressure. Pretzels, chips and
many canned food items
contain excessive salt.
(High sodium food list)
Despite all the bad press about fast food, why do people
continue to throng fast food restaurants? The reasons often
given by people are:
Convenience
Cleanliness
Friendly service
Delicious food
Value for money
Speed
In conclusion, it can be deduced that nutritional concerns rank
very low on most people’s priorities when it comes to choosing
food. Some fast food eaten now and then, is OK. But for weight
watchers (and people with sensitive physiology, allergies, high
blood pressure, and weak digestion), the high calories, salt,
sugar, and additives of fast food can inflict health problems, and
are therefore best avoided.
Five Tips for a Healthy, Happy Family
When good eating and exercise habits are
formed at home, they can last a lifetime. Use
these techniques to teach your children the
importance of staying active and eating
nutritious (and great-tasting!) food.
1. Good foods in; bad foods out.
Start simple. When kids are
young, you have the advantage
Because they eat at least half
their meals at home. If you stock
your cupboards and fridge with
nutritious foods and toss out the
junk, then your whole family will be eating the same
healthy foods. Shop for fat-free or reduced-fat dairy
(milk, yogurt, and cheese) and lean protein sources
(skinless poultry, fish, turkey sausage and bacon, and so
on), and have freshly washed vegetables and fruit
available at all times.
2. Eat dinner as a
Family — and slim
down favorite
meals.
Sitting down to regular meals as
a family is a great way to connect with one another and offers the
opportunity to instill proper eating habits in your children at an early
age. I find that family dinners are the best occasions for kids to
explore new foods — something they may not be inclined to do at a
friend's house or at a restaurant. Learn to make leaner versions of
your kids' favorites — like tacos with ground turkey, pizza with
toasted whole-wheat pita bread and reduced-fat mozzarella cheese,
baked sweet potato fries, and "unfried" chicken fingers. Pick five of
your family's standards and master a healthier, tasty version of each.
3. Minimize snacking
Constant snacking throughout the day can set kids up for weight gain
and leave them uninterested in eating when it's time to sit down for
lunch or dinner. And if they're less hungry, they'll be less willing to try
new foods — like vegetables! As a parent, it's important to set snacking
guidelines: Try to stick to a consistent meal and snack schedule, spacing
snacks and meals at least two hours apart, allowing no more than two
or three snacks a day, and limiting them to about 150 calories apiece.
Apple slices with peanut butter, low-fat yogurt with strawberries, airpopped popcorn, baby carrots and red pepper sticks with low-fat dip,
and homemade trail mix made with whole grain cereal, nuts, and dried
fruit are all great options.
4. Make the TV room a no eating zone.
Excessive TV watching leads to inactivity and
mindless munching. So make the TV room a "noeating zone," and get the television sets out of
your kids' bedrooms. Turn off the tube during
mealtimes, and try your best to limit overall TV
watching to no more than two
hours a day (this includes
non-academic computer activity
and video games as well). Your
children will be more active and
well-rounded as a result.
5. Get moving
as a family.
Not only does physical activity
help with weight management,
but it can boost self-esteem and
encourage family bonding. Kids,
especially those struggling with
their weight, like the acceptance
they feel as part of a team. Plan
hikes, go for family bike rides,
toss a ball around in the
backyard, join exercise classes
together, follow along with
exercise videos — anything
goes! Take turns choosing
activities; in no time at all, the
whole family will look forward
to enjoying these fit, fun
outings.
IN CONCLUSION HERE ARE TWO
ENLIGHTENING QUOTES ON HEALTHY EATING
“ Those who think they have no time for healthy
eating will sooner or later have to find time for
illness.“ Edward Stanley
Tell me what you eat, and I'll tell you what
you are. Anthelme Brillat-Savarin
This Presentation was produced by Green Earth Movement
(GEM) Team, c/o St Xavier’s Community Centre, Panvel
Tel: 2745 5556
Email: [email protected],
[email protected]