The unhealthy Indian bulge is on an expansion spree. Worse still, it is growing younger and stubbornly prominent. According to a survey, 15% youngsters at school and colleges have an unhealthy waist circumference and India is one of the among the world’s most obese countries. We are fast becoming a nation of obese, increasingly exposed to various food hazards.
Fast food is the food commercially, which takes only a few seconds to assemble, is palatable and affordable. But in an attempt to meet taste requirements at a low price, several nutritional comprise are made.
Fast food puts us at greater risk of diabetes, hypertension, heart attack and cancer as fast foods are usually high in cholesterols, sugar, sodium and preservations, each of which has been linked to development of chronic degenerative disorders. Junk food is further low in protective components like fibre.
Many fast foods further have a wide variety of chemical activities. These may pose health risks. For decades, these coal tar dyes have been suspected to be toxic and many have been banned. Safety questions several around the few that remains.
Very harmful chemical is processed foods such as potato chips, pre sweetened cereals, chewing gums and soup cubes are added to frying oil in the fast food restaurants. Coffine is added to almost all aerated soft drinks like coals and orange drinks. The fat used by fast food restaurants in India is hydrogenated oil.
Largely due to increased consumption of fast and processed food in the past 80 years, our fat intake has increased about 20% and sugar consumption has gone up by 40%.
So, we lose out on the fibre, vitamins, minerals and other foods we need to protect us against heart attacks, cancers, diabetes and other degenerative disorders.
