Nutrition

Junk FoodProducts Relating to 'Junk Food'

JUNK FOOD

Junk food is a derogatory term used for a list of certain foods. The contents of the list vary from place to place and people to people but it connotes exactly the same meaning whatever the foods may be. You know, what?

The term 'junk food' was coined by Michael Jacobson, director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest in 1972, to describe unhealthy foods perceived to be of low nutritional value. Since then the term hasacquired international status as common usage, without any distortion of meaning.

Categorically junk foods are high in salt, sugar, fat, or calories and low in fiber and nutrients like proteins, vitamins and minerals. But this is not the whole truth. A lot more foods of this description are not junk foods. In fact many foods served in expensive restaurants or even cooked at home may be far less in nutrition and higher in empty calories.

The basic criteria of junk foods are that

• they are very popular with the consumers,
• relatively cheap,
• easily available,
• do not need refrigeration,
• can be carried and eaten with ease anywhere.

Junk foods also have a sort of 'cult' taste and flavor that binds the consumers in a strange relationship. This makes children very vulnerable. Now a days there is deep concern over targetting of junk food at children.

Junk food is also associated with obesity. heart diseases, type 2 diabetes and dental cavities.

Heavy and regular consumption of junk food is likely to make children malnourished and interfere with their normal growth and may cause related problems like poor performance at school.

As a result, in UK, a ban has been imposed on advertising junk food on television during children's viewing time and many schools also have banned junk food on their premises.

Some internationally known junk foods are candy, gum, sweet desserts, fried fast food and carbonated beverages.

Some people suggest that taking a radical approach of just banning all junk food is not right. Manufacturers of each food should declare or write clearly on the package the nutrients in the packet so that the consumer can make a knowledgable choice.

Consumers should educate themselves and their children to read the contents and know what they are consuming. It is important to see the amount of salt, sugar, cholestrol and fat the packet contains or one serving of it provides.

If one serving gives 300 calorie, it should be alright for most normal people who are not having any health problems. Here one should take care to check how many servings the packet contains.

Next we must see what percentage of these 300 calories comes from fats in the food. Fats are very important for healthy functioning of our body; they carry fat soluble vitamins and keep us satisfied between meals, but not more than 30% of total calories must come from fats. One gram of fat gives 9 calories so a 300 calories packet should not have more than 11 grams of fat.

Cholestrol content should not be more than 300 milligrams per day.

Sodium content should be less than 2300 milligrams per day.

Fiber content of about 2 grams per serving is alright; 5 grams is considered a high fiber content.

Sugar should be limited to about 4 grams per serving. If the packet contains fruit 8 grams of sugar may be permissible, for the benefit of vitamins and minerals that would be present in the fruit along with the sugar.

Junk food is after all food that people like to eat. Instead of eliminating it totally it would be better to cut down salt, sugar, fats and refined food.

Article Published: Thursday 28th June 2007