FAST FOODS AND HEALTH

                                  FAST FOODS AND Health 
                      (JUNK FOODS)

    The dark side of junk foods is not an unknown fact. Several research studies have shown that fast foods and processed foods have increased childhood obesity, heart disease and Diabetes and other chronic diseases. Maharashtra Government Bans Junk food in school canteens | (Edited by Anisha Singh | Tuesday May 9, 2017 ), No Junk Food For School Children In Nagaland, Says NBSE Chairman Asano Sekhose (Edited by Anisha Singh | Wednesday March 15, 2017), Punjab Child Rights Panel Bans Junk Food In Schools (Indo-Asian News Service | Thursday, July 14, 2016). Recently, the Delhi Government demanded a crackdown on junk food that is sold in schools and within 50 meters of them.Not only do they add inches to your waistline, but scientists and researchers have also indicated through various studies that junk food can actually cause serious damage to your brain. The worrying bit is that it’s not just years of poor eating, but regular consumption of junk food even for few days can lead to a mental meltdown.

 In his book, Encyclopedia of Junk Food and FAST FOOD

, Andre F. Smith defines junk food as, "those commercial products, including candy, bakery goods, ice cream, salty snacks, and soft drinks, which have little or no nutritional value but do have plenty of calories, salt, and fats. While not all fast foods are junk foods, most are. Fast foods are ready-to-eat foods served promptly after ordering."

How Junk Food Affects Children?

Obesity risk:

   A study published in "Pediatrics" Found fast-food consumption in children was linked with many dangerous precursors for obesity. According to this study, kids who ate fast food were more likely to consume a higher amount of calories, fat, carbohydrates and added sugars in one out fast food meal. They were also less likely to consume as much fiber, milk and fruits, and vegetables as children who did not eat fast food. Children who consumed more fattening foods while eating fast food were also likely, in general, to eat more unhealthy foods at other meals. High-calorie food can be addictive, causing children who occasionally eat fast food to learn problematic patterns of eating. These factors were found to place children who regularly ate food at increased risk for obesity. 

Energy and Focus: 

  

   According to the women's and children's health. Diet has a significant effect on children's study habits. Junk food and foods with high sugar content deplete energy levels and the ability to concentrate for extended periods of time. Energy and focus are especially crucial for school age children. Children set the foundation for lifelong habits in their youth, making junk food particularly hazardous to their well-rounded development. Physical activity is also essential for children of all ages, and regularly eating junk food does not provide the necessary nutrients children need for sufficient energy to engage in physical activity. A lack of physical activity is harmful to physical and mental wellness. A lack of physical activity is harmful to the physical and mental well being and may also exclude a child from critical social development.

Chronic Illness: 

    According to the Prevention Institute, experts blame junk food for rising rates of diabetes, high blood pressure, and stroke. Increasing rates of chronic illness affect children who regularly consume junk food. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicts if current trends continue, one in three U.S. adults will have diabetes by the year 2050. Diabetes can result in disability and premature death. The center for food safety noted in 2012 the obese children are also more likely to develop high cholesterol and heart disease later in life. According to the women's and children's Health Network, changes can happen in children's bodies even when they are young that is associated with disease at a more advanced age. 

Self- Esteem and Depression: 

   Self-esteem and confidence in oneself are especially important to growing children, and regularly consuming junk food can negatively impact this sense of self. According to Kids Health Club magazine, junk food can affect a child's physical development in detriment ways, including unhealthy weight gain. which can result in self-esteem problems. Low self-esteem can lead to consequences like depression. Nutritionists at MayoClinic.com also report eating junk food can potentially cause depression on its own. According to the journal “American Family Physician,” depression -- which can be very dangerous for children -- has negative impacts on growth and development, performance in school and social relationships and can ultimately lead to suicide.

5 Harmful Effects of Junk Food:

1. Lessens its ability to control appetite: 

  Excess consumption of trans fats found in fried and processed foods can send mixed signals to the brain which makes it difficult to process what you have eaten and how hungry are. This is probably why you end up overeating. Healthy brain functions require a daily dose of essential fatty acids like omega-6 and omega-3. Deficiency of these two elements increases the risk of attention deficit disorder, dementia, and bipolar disorder and other brains- related problems. 

   Over consumption of junk food may displace these with trans fats which are harder to digest. A 2011 study shows that trans fats may cause inflammation in the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that containing neurons to control body weight. In worst scenarios, the habit of overeating can be similar to drug addiction to an extent that relying on junk foods may activate the pleasure centers of the brain greater than receiving drugs. 

2.  Increases the risk of dementia: 

               This has been one of the scariest discoveries

associated with the consumption of junk food. You may know that insulin is produced in the pancreas and helps in the transportation of glucose to fuel the body. Insulin is also produced in the brain where it helps in carrying singles between nerve cells and forming memories. A study conducted at the Brown University shows that too much fatty food and sweets can substantially increase the insulin levels in our body. 

 Just like in the case of type  2 Diabetes, with higher levels of insulin, the brain stops responding to this hormone and become resistant to it. This can restrict our ability to think, recall or create memories, thus increasing the risk of dementia. Researcher Suzanne de la Monte, M.D, a professor of pathology, neurology, and neurosurgery at Rhode Island Hospital and the Alpert Medical School of Brown University was the first to uncover this association. Following this discovery, most scientists refer to Alzheimer's as a form of diabetes of the brain. 

3. It makes you impatient and can cause uncontrollable cravings: 

    Eating a sugary cupcake or Doughnut may temporarily spike your blood sugar levels making you feel happy and satisfied but as soon as they return to normal you are left feeling all the more irritable. Fast food is packed with refined Carbohydrates which cause your blood sugar levels to fluctuate rapidly. If your sugar level dip to a very low level, it can cause anxiety, confusion, and fatigue. With a high content of sugar and fats, you tend to eat too fast and too much to satisfy your cravings.

  This can inculcate an impatient behavior while dealing with other things. Fast foods and processed foods may be laden with artificial flavorings and preservatives like sodium benzoate that tends to increase hyperactivity. 

4. It can cause chemical changes that can lead to depression: 

  A lot of studies have shown that eating foods high in sugar and fat actually changes the chemical activity of the brain making it more dependent on such foods. A study conducted at the University of Montreal on mice showed that they suffered from withdrawal symptoms after their regular junk food diet was discontinued. In humans, these withdrawal symptoms can lead to the inability to deal with stress, make you feel depressed and eventually you would turn back to those foods to comfort yourself and handle these feelings. Soon, you may be caught in a vicious cycle even before you know it. Also, by consuming too much fast food you may lose out on essential nutrients like amino acid tryptophan, the lack of which can increase feelings of depression. An imbalance of fatty acids is another reason why people who consume more junk food are at a higher risk of depression. 

5. It can cause memory and learning problems: 

     A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2011 showed that healthy people who ate junk food for only 5 days performed poorly on cognitive tests that measured attention, speed, and mood. It concluded that eating junk food for just five days regularly can deteriorate your memory. this probably stems from the fact that a poor or toxic diet can cause certain chemical reactions that lead to inflammation in the hippocampus area of the brain which is associated with memory and special recognition. Diets that are high in sugar and fat can suppress the activity of a brain peptide called BDNF (brain- derived neurotrophic factor) that helps with learning and memory formation. Moreover, the brain contains synapses which are responsible for learning and memory. Eating too many calories can interfere with the healthy production and functioning of these synapses. 

Respiratory system:

     

      Excess calories from fast-food meals can cause weight gain. This may lead toward Obesity.Obesity increases your risk for respiratory problems, including asthma and shortness of breath. The extra pounds can put pressure on your heart and lungs and symptoms may show up even with little exertion. You may notice difficulty breathing when you’re walking, climbing stairs, or exercising.For children, the risk of respiratory problems is especially clear. One study found that children who eat fast food at least three times a week are more likely to develop asthma.

Digestive and cardiovascular systems:

   

      Most fast food, including drinks and sides, are loaded with carbohydrates with little to no fiber. When your digestive system breaks down these foods, the carbs are released as glucose (sugar) into your bloodstream. As a result, your blood sugar increases. Your pancreas responds to the surge in glucose by releasing insulin. Insulin transports sugar throughout your body to cells that need it for energy. As your body uses or stores the sugar, your blood sugar returns to normal.How many carbs should you eat in a day?This blood sugar process is highly regulated by your body, and as long as you’re healthy, your organs can properly handle these sugar spikes. But frequently eating high amounts of carbs can lead to repeated spikes in your blood sugar. Overtime, these insulin spikes may cause your body’s normal insulin response to falter. This increases your risk for weight gain, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes.

Central nervous system: 

       Fast food may satisfy hunger in the short term, but long terms results are less positive. people who eat fast food and processed pastries are 51% more likely to develop depression than people who don't eat those foods or eat very few of them. 

Reproductive system: 

     The ingredients in junk food and fast food may have an impact on your fertility. One study found that processed food contains phthalates. Phthalates are chemicals that can interrupt how hormones act in your body. Exposure to high levels of these chemicals could lead to the reproductive issue, including birth defects. 

Integumentary system(Skin, hair, nails):

   

    The foods you eat may impact your skin's appearance, but it might not be the foods you suspect. In the past, chocolate and greasy foods like pizza have taken the blame for acne breakouts, but according to the Mayo Clinic, it's carbohydrates. Carb-rich foods lead to blood sugar spikes, and these sudden jumps in blood sugar levels may trigger acne. Anti-acne diet children and adolescents who eat fast food at least three times a week are also more likely to develop eczema, according to one study. Eczema is a skin condition that causes irritated patches of inflamed, itchy skin.

Skeletal system(bones): 

   Carbs and sugar in fast food and processed food can increase acids in your mouth. These acids can break down tooth enamel. As tooth enamel disappears, bacteria can take hold, and cavities may develop. Obesity can also lead to a complication with bone density and muscle mass. People who are obese have a greater risk of falling and breaking bones. It's important to keep exercising to build muscles, which support your bones, and maintain a healthy diet to minimize bone loss. 

Sugar and fat: 

    

    Many fast-food meals have added sugar. Not only does that mean extra calories, but also little nutrition.The American Heart Association suggests only eating100 to 150 calories of added sugar per day. That’s about six to nine teaspoons. Many fast-food drinks alone hold well over 12 ounces. A 12-ounce can of soda contains 8 teaspoons of sugar. That equals 130 calories, 39 grams of sugar, and nothing else.Trans fat is manufactured fat created during food processing. It’s commonly found in:

· fried pies

· pastries

· pizza dough

· crackers

· cookies

No amount of trans fat is good or healthy. Eating foods that contain it can increase your LDL (bad) cholesterol, lower HDL (good) cholesterol, and increase your risk for type 2 diabetes and heart disease.Restaurants may also compound the calorie-counting issue. In one study, people eating at restaurants they associated as “healthy” still underestimated the number of calories in their meal by 20 percent.

sodium: 

  The combination of fat, sugar, and lots of sodium(salt) can make fast food tastier to some people. But diets high in sodium can lead to water retention, which is why you may feel puffy, bloated, or swollen after eating fast food. Salt actually makes you hunger, not thirsty, A diet high in sodium is also dangerous for people with blood pressure conditions. Sodium can elevate blood pressure and put stress on your heart and cardiovascular system. According to one study, about 90% of adults underestimate how much sodium is their fast-food meals. The study surveyed 993 adults and found that their guesses were six times lower than the actual number(1,292 milligrams). This means sodium estimates were off by more than 1,000 mg. Keep in mind sodium estimates were off by more than 1,000 mg. Keep in mind that the American Heart Association recommends adults eat no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day. One fast-food meal could have half your day's worth. 

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