Stop Junk Food Epidemic I Blog By Rishav, 12, Kolkata

Stop Junk Food Epidemic

Junk Food, a term coined by American nutritionist Michael F. Jacobson in 1972, is a deadly type of food which is characterized by a negligible nutritional value and a high presence of unhealthy things such as cholesterol, saturated fats, refined white sugar and white flour along with additives, dyes and chemical preservatives. This deadly kind of food has now almost doubled in popularity from a few years ago or more precisely 13 years ago in 2011.

Junk and fast food do not contain any useful nutrient and only harm our body. It usually contains high saturated fat, trans fats, high sugar and salt content, and additives along with per- and poly-fluorinated substances (PFAS). All together in different quantities they make junk foods tasty. But they all have bad side effects. Thus, an enemy comes in disguise.

High saturated and trans fat along with high sugar content in junk food can lead to obesity, high level of bad cholesterol in blood, heart disease in youth, fatty liver and diabetes in teenage. Additionally, high sugar causes dental problems and damage the immunity functions in our body. High salt content can harm our kidneys and the heart as well as cause hypertension. Additives and per- and poly fluorinated substances present in the fast foods can injure kidneys and the liver. Kids are specially affected by these substances. They develop growth impairment, decrease learning ability and psychological problems like ‘Attention Deficit Hyperkinetic Disorder’ also known as ADHD.

While we see junk food destroying our health when consumed, healthy foods do the opposite. Instead of containing all kinds of bad things, a healthy and balanced diet is full of essential nutrients. Though it may not be as tasty as junk food and fast food, it does not intend to harm us. A balanced diet is one that contains all nutrients in the correct proportions. A balanced diet helps us protect   our body against a lot of adversities and related diseases like obesity, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, malnutrition and cancer. It keeps us active and in good health.

We should be aware of the course of suffering while we can and live a healthy and happy life.

Bibliography:

1. Fuhrman J. The Hidden Dangers of Fast and Processed Food. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2018 Apr 3;12(5):375–381. doi: 10.1177/1559827618766483
2. The growth of ultra-processed foods in India: an analysis of trends, issues and policy recommendations. New Delhi: World Health Organization, Country Office for India, 2023. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. Available on: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789290210672
3. Sadler, C. R., Grassby, T., Hart, K., Raats, M., Sokolović, M., & Timotijevic, L. (2021). Processed food classification conceptualizationn and challenges. Trends in Food Science & Technology, 112, 149–162. doi:10.1016/j.tifs.2021.02.059
4. Banerjee, Souparno, editor. JUNK FOOD TARGETED AT CHILDREN: Regulatory Action Required to Limit Exposure and Availability. Centre for Science and Environment, 2014. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep37924. Accessed on July 28, 2024.
5. Pandav C, Smith Taillie L, Miles DR, Hollingsworth BA, Popkin BM. The WHO South-East Asia Region Nutrient Profile Model Is Quite Appropriate for India: An Exploration of 31,516 Food Products. Nutrients. 2021 Aug 15;13(8):2799. doi: 10.3390/nu13082799. PMID: 34444959; PMCID: PMC8400900.
6. Use of nutrient profile models for nutrition and health policies: meeting report on the use of nutrient profile models in the WHO European Region, September 2021. Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe; 2022. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO

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