08/09/2022
Nutri-READ📖 Big No to Silent Killer Fast Foods
Junk food refers to fast food that is easy to make and consume. Studies have claimed that fast foods are silent killers due to high levels of refined sugar, white flour, trans fat, polyunsaturated fat, salt, and numerous food additives such as monosodium glutamate (MSG) and tartrazine. Additionally, it lacks protein, vitamins, and fiber. Studies have shown that daily consumption of fast- and packaged foods brings higher risks of developing physiological imbalances such as obesity and overweight in children and adults. Overeating over a long period can lead to health problems. However, due to its essential features, such as their easy availability, delicious taste, convenience, and friendly and attractive packaging, they have become preferable food sources compared to those traditional and healthier food items.
Types of Silent Killer Fast Foods according to their content:
1. High-Fat Content – Hamburgers, pizza, fried chicken, and chips are usually loaded up with saturated fats. Too much fat in your diet, specifically saturated fats, can raise cholesterol levels, increasing heart disease risk.
2. High Salt Content – Foods such as bread, breakfast cereals, and biscuits usually contain too much salt, tinned fish and meat, instant noodles, and soup stock cubes. They are high in sodium despite being usually cheap, widely available, and not requiring refrigeration. Salt is added during cooking or while eating condiments such as table salt, fish sauce, and soy sauce. Too much salt predisposes an individual to hypertension, heart disease, and stroke.
3. High Sugar Content – Soft drinks, biscuits, cakes, and lollies also have loads of sugar, making them taste too good. Excess sugar in the blood for long periods can cause serious health problems if it’s not treated. High blood sugar can damage vessels that supply blood to vital organs, which may lead to cardiovascular diseases, stroke, kidney disease, vision, and nerve problems.
Sources:
Rajini, S., Kannan, K., & Selvi, T. (2021). Factors influencing the consumption of fast food among young adults. Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International, 430-440. https://doi.org/10.9734/jpri/2021/v33i44a32635
Salt health risks: Department of Health. (n.d.). Home: Department of Health. https://health.ri.gov/healthrisks/salt/
Trans fats: The silent killer in your food. (2022, April 19). NCD Alliance. https://ncdalliance.org/why-ncds/video-stories-of-change/trans-fats-the-silent-killer-in-your-food
When blood sugar is too high. (n.d.). Nemours KidsHealth - the Web's most visited site about children's health. https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/high-blood-sugar.html
World Health Organization (WHO). (2014, September 25). WHO warns against the dangers of excessive salt consumption. https://www.who.int/westernpacific/news/item/25-09-2014-who-warns-against-the-dangers-of-excessive-salt-consumption
Article: BSND Megan Carbajal
PubMat: BSND Trisha Labadan