The Dangers of Consuming Processed Foods:
It’s Effects on the Body and the healthier substitutes
Gurman Johal
Sandalwood Heights Secondary School
The Western Diet Epidemic
“What an extraordinary achievement for a civilization: to have developed the one diet that reliably makes its people sick!” (Pollan, pg. xii) Despite being unethical and, to a certain extent evil, our society has turned a vital process into a life-harming crisis. Valuing money over the health of the people, our society has commercialized, food turning it into an edible sickness and a multi-million dollar industry. Many refer to this epidemic as the Western diet best expressed by the words of Michael Pollan. “Populations that eat a so-called Western diet- …show more content…
Fast food with a Side of Diseases
Shockingly, one of the biggest contributors to Western diseases is also one of the most popular. The health risks associated with the consumption of fast food are well known around the world. A poll from the Huffington post in 2013 found that 76% of Americans agreed that fast food is “not good for you” or “not good for you at all” (Tepper, 2013). Yet, eight out of ten Americans will still eat from fast food restaurants at least once a month (Figure 1.1), with a large proportion of those surveyed eating fast food at least once a week. But why is fast food so bad for you? Well, fast foods are heavily processed, meaning that they are packed with high amounts of added sugars, salts, unhealthy fats and carbohydrates. This provides an excess amount of calories while offering little to no nutritional value. Which can lead to high blood pressure, acne, depression, blood sugar spikes, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes (Langton, 2015). This is primarily caused by the high amounts of carbohydrates found in fast food. When these carbohydrates are broken down, they cause sharp blood sugar
It’s Effects on the Body and the healthier substitutes
Gurman Johal
Sandalwood Heights Secondary School
The Western Diet Epidemic
“What an extraordinary achievement for a civilization: to have developed the one diet that reliably makes its people sick!” (Pollan, pg. xii) Despite being unethical and, to a certain extent evil, our society has turned a vital process into a life-harming crisis. Valuing money over the health of the people, our society has commercialized, food turning it into an edible sickness and a multi-million dollar industry. Many refer to this epidemic as the Western diet best expressed by the words of Michael Pollan. “Populations that eat a so-called Western diet- …show more content…
Fast food with a Side of Diseases
Shockingly, one of the biggest contributors to Western diseases is also one of the most popular. The health risks associated with the consumption of fast food are well known around the world. A poll from the Huffington post in 2013 found that 76% of Americans agreed that fast food is “not good for you” or “not good for you at all” (Tepper, 2013). Yet, eight out of ten Americans will still eat from fast food restaurants at least once a month (Figure 1.1), with a large proportion of those surveyed eating fast food at least once a week. But why is fast food so bad for you? Well, fast foods are heavily processed, meaning that they are packed with high amounts of added sugars, salts, unhealthy fats and carbohydrates. This provides an excess amount of calories while offering little to no nutritional value. Which can lead to high blood pressure, acne, depression, blood sugar spikes, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes (Langton, 2015). This is primarily caused by the high amounts of carbohydrates found in fast food. When these carbohydrates are broken down, they cause sharp blood sugar