Food is fuel for the body & has a direct impact on
how we feel as well as on our overall health. Helping children develop
healthier eating habits is proving to be a great struggle for parents all
around the world. With hectic pace of life & a demanding work culture, even
health conscious parents nowadays tolerate these undesirable eating habits.
Junk food is a tempting option for a variety of reasons, including convenience,
price & most importantly taste. Junk food is “any pre-prepared or packaged
food that contains large portions of unhealthy fat & added sugar but is low
in nutrition”. There are many harmful repercussions to persistent fast food
eating habits, not just the inevitable weight gain. For children, who do not
always understand consequences of their eating habits, junk food may appear
especially appetizing leading to complications like chronic illness, low
self-esteem & even depression alongside affecting their performance in
school & extracurricular activities.
21st
Century Woes
It is the 21st century & junk food is now
available all over the world. We see it everywhere - in grocery &
convenience stores, fast-food restaurants, on television - always looking very
inviting & appealing. Major problem with fast food is that people don’t
feel full even after consumption & which inevitably leads to over eating.
So when fast food replaces real food, it leads to poor nutrition & poorer
health.
Affects
on Digestive & Cardiovascular System
When carbohydrate intake is excessive, it causes a spike
in blood sugar levels. Such frequent spikes may create causative factors for
type 2diabetes. Added sugars have no nutritional value whatsoever which cause
heart diseases. Trans fats, found in almost all kinds of fast food, raise the
undesirable kind of cholesterol levels. Sodium holds on to water & hence
too much of it can lead to puffiness & bloating due to water retention. It
also causes constipation since it contains little to no fiber content. It also
contributes to high blood pressure. Children who have high sodium intake are at
increased risk of developing high blood pressure at an early age. Excess sodium
is also a contributory factor for kidney diseases & stomach cancer. High BP
& cholesterol levels are main risk factors for stroke.
Associated
Respiratory System Problems
Obesity is associated with respiratory problems &
treating these complaints may lead to further complications. Even without diagnosis—obesity
causes episodes of shortness of breath or wheezing with slightest exertion.
Obesity may even help develop sleep apnea (shallow or irregular breathing
during sleep) & asthma.
Dietary
Triggers on Central Nervous System
Different things cause different types of headaches.
Dietary triggers that are most often found in fast food include salts,
processed meats, nitrates & MSG monohydrate. Recent studies show that
consumption of commercial baked foods like croissants, doughnuts & fast
food may be linked to depression. People who eat fast food frequently are 51% more
likely to develop depression than those who eat little to no fast food. Junk
food also diminishes energy levels & ability to concentrate for longer
periods of time.
Junk
Food is Bad for Skin & Bones
Greasy foods are often blamed for acne but the real
culprit is carbohydrates. Carbohydrate rich foods increase blood sugar which
might trigger acne. Poor oral health is another problem faced when junk food
consumption is in excess. Sodium increases risk of developing osteoporosis, a condition
of thin, fragile bones & which is a silent disease & progresses
silently with effects felt only after it has reached advanced levels.
