Taste or Health? (Part 2)
Written by Tanny PC
Is Our Fast-Food Nation Leading Us to the Pathway of Health Catastrophe?
Have you been to a supermarket or restaurant lately? What was the recent ‘food/drink’ advertisement you watched? I bet it was tempting, right? Believe me, every time I visit a restaurant or supermarket, my inner child urges me to grab and pop some of them in my mouth. Anyone can fall for them - you too?
What is fast food? What are its effects?
The fancy slogans, visually appealing photos, creatively curated videos, and vibrant packaging of fast foods and packaged foods are very eye-catching to draw the interest of the public.
Are all these foods healthy? NO! Are they cheaper and more affordable than nature’s organic produce? YES!
These addictive, sugary, salty, calorie-dense, unhealthy foods are better known as ‘fast foods or ‘processed foods.’ They include meals purchased from restaurants or street shops (such as French fries, burgers, pizza, beverages, and so on) or from supermarkets (canned and processed foods, chips, cookies, candies, breakfast bars and cereals, white flour baked goods, and so on). They are produced from plants as well as animal sources.
People claim that these foods can be prepared quickly (as compared to a home-cooked meal), are convenient to store (because of added preservatives and takeout storage boxes), and are flavorful (owing to high-sugar, high-sodium, and high-fat content).
However, I disagree here as I know there are other tasty and healthy alternatives too – nature-derived, convenient, and can be prepared quickly. On our hectic schedules, instead of grabbing a ‘sugary granola cereal bar’ or a ‘frappuccino,’ we can munch on an apple - it is a ‘fast’ and ‘nutritious’ food. But, definitely, not a ‘fast food.’ A whole-grain toast with guacamole and fresh veggies (with salt, pepper, and seeds as seasoning) takes a few minutes to prepare, but is surely a quick, healthy, and tasty alternative too! Think differently - “Eating healthy food fills your body with energy and nutrients. Imagine your cells smiling back at you and saying: Thank You!” (Karen Salmansohn)
Why do you think fast foods also called ‘junk foods?’ Because they are addictive (due to artificial sweeteners and synthetic ingredients) and contain multiple disease-promoting chemicals (TBHQ, BHT, and so on). They are devoid of valuable nutrients (macro and micro) that are considered the building blocks of our body for overall nourishment and growth.
They are found everywhere – from grocery stores to restaurants, from malls to (even) our pantry – Consumers Demand, Industries Supply! They exist because of our laid-back attitude toward prioritizing our health over our comfort. Today’s generation is experiencing an ‘obesity epidemic’ because of our dependence on fast food along with our hectic and sedentary work culture, and inadequate rest and physical activity.
People who are often dependent on a fast-food diet suffer from obesity, high blood sugar and cholesterol levels, allergies, inflammation (triggers for asthma attacks), increased risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and other mental health disorders (depression and anxiety). It also leads to several other problems such as an unhealthy gut microbiome, long-term diseases, poor memory and learning abilities, slow metabolism, and sleep apnea. Research has shown that excess calories shorten lifespan and affect our gut microbiome, whereas moderate calorie restriction slows down the aging process and protects the body and brain.
“You can’t have a healthy civilization without healthy soil. You can’t have junk food and have healthy people.” (Joel Salatin - American farmer and author)
Why are we easily attracted to the fast-food industry?
Well, who wouldn’t? The periodically organized supermarket shelves and ever-changing menus in fancy fast-food restaurants attract us just like honeybees get attracted to colorful flowers. It’s like a love story - our ‘eyes’ meet the decorative (fast) foods and they manipulate our ‘brain’ to fall in love with them. The brain lures his friend, the ‘tongue,’ who reciprocates by displaying expectations and salivation. Interesting, isn’t it?
Plant produce relies on human labor and requires favorable weather conditions. Processed foods are developed by machines in industries, which are more efficient and cheaper in the long run. Their motto is to make a profit - with or without an intention to support our health. The marketing strategy of fast food and packaged foods mainly targets busy parents (who prioritize comfort and convenience over ‘the joy of cooking’) and their kids (who do not want to fall behind their generation's trends of having a fancy restaurant meal). In short, they (industries) showcase, and we give in!
Our food habits and choices have changed dramatically over a few years owing to the ‘globalization of food’ and the ‘urbanization of our population.’ In the past, our older generations grew plants in their farmlands and home gardens, cooked nutritious meals in their kitchens, ate together as a family, and emphasized on ‘Think Green, Eat Clean, Stay Fit’ mode of lifestyle.
In recent times, working professionals have had a hectic lifestyle, and they have considered a simple theory - the quicker and effortless, the better. Such social changes are believed to have decreased the inheritance of food knowledge and skills from older to younger generations, including a loss of cultural values, celebrations, and rituals around food. After a tiring day at work, they prefer to order food from their favorite restaurants (or to heat up the refrigerated, canned foods) for themselves and their families instead of cooking a wholesome, nutritious meal at home. These unhealthy food habits and food culture are making them look and behave like ‘couch potatoes.’
As per the latest study, Gen Zs and Millennials (mainly of the urban population), between the ages of 20 and 40 years, constantly struggle to deal with body dissatisfaction and binge-eating behaviors. This is the scenario of the recent ‘Fast-Food Nation’ where our mentality of food culture behavior has taken a toll on our health, lifestyle, and environment.
Who is benefiting from all of this charade? The medical insurance companies and food industries.
Understanding our current food culture is necessary to articulate the complexities that influence our food behaviors, values, and beliefs for physical and mental health well-being (Int J Environ Res Public Health). And, how do you think we can progress with this idea? By ‘developing a sustainable planet’ and ‘including a plant-based diet’ in our lifestyle.
How to proceed with that idea? Read the next post to know more!
“We all eat, and it would be a sad waste of opportunity to eat badly.” (Anna Thomas - author of ‘The Vegetarian Epicure.’)
