Stop the Ridiculous Fast Food Trend

1454 Words3 Pages

Processed foods are everywhere; they are fast, convenient and cheap, consequently; they come at a cost to our health. Eating processed foods that contain amounts high fructose corn syrup, sodium-containing additives, trans fats (or trans fatty acids), synthetic dyes, and/or preservatives in our diet regularly is unhealthy and may cause many health problems such as; obesity, organ failure, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and tumors. The majority of people that are eating a large amount of fast food on a regular basis may not be aware of what ingredients are actually in the food they are consuming. People may be completely unaware that there are many unhealthy added ingredients to food which are used to preserve, add flavor, texture and colors to the processed foods. Yet we continue to eat food that we have no idea what it really is. Fast foods primarily consist of processed foods. The processing of food can remove nutrients and fiber, which leaves low nutrient value and empty calories. There are many controversial food additives in processed foods. For the most part, a high percentage of processed foods contain these ingredients; if not all of them. Eating large amounts of processed foods containing these ingredients has been known to trigger many health concerns and as society we really need to stop this fast food trend. As a consumer we may assume that unhealthy or unsafe food could not be sold to us but the food is sold every day. Restaurants are not required to disclose all the ingredients in their foods or drinks. Some ingredients people eat or drink are considered safe when consumed in small quantities; or considered safer for one specific age group rather than the next. If consumed in larger than assum... ... middle of paper ... ...ic Rimm, ScD, FAHA. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/ The American Heart Association. 2013. Web. 24 Oct. 2013 Lustig, Robert H. "The 'Skinny' On Childhood Obesity: How Our Western Environment Starves Kids' Brains." Pediatric Annals 35.12 (2006): 898. MEDLINE with Full Text. Web. 30 Oct. 2013. "This Is Your Brain On Sugar: UCLA Study Shows High-Fructose Diet Sabotages Learning, Memory." Latitudes Online 12.4 (2012): 6. Consumer Health Complete - EBSCOhost. Web. 2 Dec. 2013. Fishman, Mikkel. "Growing Evidence That High Fructose Corn Syrup Plays A Role In Obesity." Moderate Voice (2010): 6. Points of View Reference Center. Web. 2 Dec. 2013. "Butylated Hydroxyanisole." Report On Carcinogens: Carcinogen Profiles / U.S. Dept. Of Health And Human Services, Public Health Service, National Toxicology Program 12.(2011): 78-80. MEDLINE with Full Text. Web. 2 Dec. 2013.

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