Fast Food - A Dangerous Addiction

When discussing fast food it is inevitable to discuss the health hazards surrounding it. From a nutritional perspective it is many times a very unhealthy mix. Saturated fats, trans fats, salt, sugar and low nutritional value. Hamburgers and pizzas have replaced a more balanced diet. Soft drinks have replaced normal water or other better options - in just 30 years the per capita consumption of soft drinks almost has tripled in most countries.

Is All Junk Food?
This is not an equation that is completely accurate, sushi would be a good example on a fast food that is healthy. The term "junk food" applies hamburgers, pizzas and tacos - it does not include healthy sandwiches or sushi. The fact that modern man has a lot less time has created a demand for fast and easily aquired food.

Marketing
Most of this food is very unhealthy and as a subsequence our populations are getting fatter and unhealthier. Behind all this is a created demand. Enormous marketing campaigns including famous actors and artists are behind the success of many of our well known fast food chains. In many ways this advertising is directed towards children and to early on create a demand in them. The morality in this should of course be under great scrutiny. If you are responsible for creating obese children with their associated health problems should it not be critizised - some even argue for labeling of unhealthy food much like you do with cigarettes. The bottom line is probably that parents has to be conscious enough to make sure unhealthy fast food and soft drink intake is minimized.

Food Addiction
It is only quite recently that it has been realized how food can be addictive - much in the same way as cigarettes or other drugs. Sugar, salt and fat are bult in cravings in the human body, for the best part of human history they were hard to come by so we are programmed to like them. There are rumours saying that a famous food chain add addictive chemical substances to their products, in my view that is not so likely - it is rather a combination of natural cravings together with elaborate marketing that make people addicted. Understanding the addictive nature of fat, sugar and salt lead to the conclusion that intake has to be controlled. Giving in to all our cravings can be potentially dangerous.

Environmental Impact
Another important aspect of this is how much garbage is produced with every fast food meal - styrofoam, plastic, paper and aluminum are all common packaging materials and create huge garbage problems. Also the way food is produced and transported has to be scrutinized - pollution from transport and pesticides are examples.

Alternatives
The most important thing is to actually realize the hazards of what we eat. If you don´t have the time to cook food choose the more healthy ready made options. Understand that what you feed your kids can be harmful. That the small favour of satisfying their demands for junk food might potentially turn in to a huge unfavour - one of the best gifts you can give your children is healthy eating habits! You might have to plan your life a bit more? Spend a few hours every now and then to cook food that you freeze and then can reheat later, not only is it healthier but also a money saver.


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