Harmful Effects Of Junk Food

Listed below are some important health complications caused due to sumptuous consumption of junk food.

Lack of energy:

Junk foods do not contain any nutrients that are beneficial to the human body. In most cases, these foods are filled with harmful carbohydrates, fats and cholesterol that do not provide any useful energy. As a result, somebody consuming junk food has reduced level of essential nutrients thereby causing weakness in the body.

Poor Concentration:

One disadvantage of consuming junk food is that it contains high amount of oil and fat. As a result, human body finds this food difficult to digest and needs to spend high amount of blood and enzymes. When a person consumes junk food in excess, a major portion of blood in the body is diverted to the intestine. As a result, the person feels drowsy and suffers with reduced concentration.

Heart Diseases:

Junk foods have been identified as a major cause of heart diseases including myocardial infraction, cardiac arrest and atherosclerosis. This is due to the fact that junk food contains excessive amount of low-density lipoproteins and cholesterol that get deposited on the inner linings of blood vessels. This result in formation of plaques and the heart is required to put an extra effort for pumping blood through the arteries. Presence of fat in the blood also causes reduced oxygen levels. Another harmful factor present in junk foods is excess concentration of sugars and salt. Excessive concentration of sodium ions causes an increased heart blood pressure.

Liver Failure:

Even liver gets damaged due to presence of ingredients such as fat, cholesterol and salt inside the junk foods.

Diabetes:

Junk foods also cause damage to the pancreas resulting in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM).

By Jared Lee

Obesity & Weight Management is a Social Issue

Much has been written about obesity and globesity. Obesity is perhaps the biggest drain on any nations economic resources with a mind-boggling costs to which researchers are yet to put a final figure. But the estimates run into trillions of dollars across the world.
Governments across the world is mired in deep bureaucratic mechanisms to do anything more than put out food guidelines. Even this does not reach the intended public.
The issue needs to be tackled massively by the society that has spawned the problem in the first place.
So what are the social alternatives?
Dissemination of Information
This perhaps could be biggest tool to use against the fight for obesity control. Every institution from schools and collages to corporate have to disseminate, nay flood their audience with information on obesity and weight control, its evils, cost to individuals and food guidelines to control obesity. The stakes now are too high for everyone for the issue to be left to government alone to tackle.
Social Boycott of Fast food joints
A massive campaign especially aimed at the youth on the perils of a fast food culture and how it is eating into the very vitals of a healthy society. The campaign may include 'No Fast Food' days, creation of nutritional communities and clubs that actively protest the opening of new fast food joints in the local community. Nutritional communities may bring pressure on the fast food companies to put out nutritional information on the food they serve.
Promote Physical Activities
Every one especially children must be educated on the benefits of increased physical activities. The computer and television has been a major inhibitor of good health among children and adults alike. The community should raise funds to promote physical culture events and create awareness through public interest advertising.
Lobby the Government
There should be an effective lobbying to legislate laws against fast food and junk food companies, carbonated drinks and beverages that promote high calorie junk full of toxic chemicals disguised as fruit juices.
Promote Health foods and herbal nutrition
Traditionally herbal food supplements have less cause to create trouble. Increase awareness about Herbal food items and herbal nutritional supplements that promote physical wellness, build immunity and helps in reducing body fat. Awareness of the health effects and the bio friendly nature of herbal food supplements would definitely help in combating the problem largely.
Its time for the society to act to control the menace of obesity, take responsibility so that our future generations may lead a better and more qualitative life and enjoy the fruits of all the modern scientific developments.

By Srinivasan Gopal