Is fast food junk food…?!?

Is fast food junk food? Not necessarily…. It depends…

Fast food

Fast food is food cooked in bulk and in advance and kept warm, or reheated to order. Many fast-food restaurants are part of restaurant chains or franchise operations, and standardized foodstuffs are delivered to each restaurant from central locations. Although fastfood restaurants are often viewed as a representation of a day by day family outing, the concept of "ready-cooked food to go" is as old as cities themselves;unique variations are historical in various cultures. Ancient Roman cities had bread and olive stands, East Asian cultures feature noodle shops. Flat bread and falafel are ubiquitous in the Middle East. Fastfood has become a part of our daily lives. In fact, according to surveys, 70 percent of fastfood chains clientels are children with ages ranging from three – eight years. Children would always insist on passing by their favorite fastfood chain to eat and play with the colorful toys they offer. In the fast-paced life we are living, a grab of our favorite burger, tacos, French fries and soda is the most practical way we can save time and effort… But is it healthy… ?

Junk food

Junk food is a term describing food that is perceived to be unhealthy or having poor nutritional value, according to Foods Standards Agency of the US. The term has been coined by Michael Jacobson, director of the Centre for Science in Public Interest, 1972. The term has since become common usage globally.

Junk food typically contains high levels of fat, cholesterol, salt, sugar and numerous food additives such as monosodium glutamate ( MSG or vetsin) and tatrazine, it is lacking in proteins, vitamins and fibers etc… Consumption of junk food is associated with obesity, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and dental cavities.

Though many cardiologists and nutritionists believe that junk food is not harmful when consumed as part of a balanced diet, there is a movement now from environmentalists to add nutrition facts in all foods served in fast food chains. This group clamors for their right to know the contents of the food humanity eats. They are also concerned about the transfat inside the food we eat.

According to Dr. Antonio S. Sibulo Jr., director of St Luke’s Heart Institute and the cardiologist of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, "a healthy lifestyle and maintaining a well balanced diet will ensure the Filipino people of lesser risk of a coronary heart disease." Dr. Sibulo is one of the top cardiologists in the country and has received several awards from international and local panels. Dr. Sibulo is a very respected speaker for international forums and is an advocate for food safety for the Filipino people.

Dr. Sibulo stated that the risk factors of a coronary heart diseases are the following: high cholesterol intake, hypertension (140/90 and above), smoking, diabetes miletus and lastly, genetic factors.

Sibulo stated that prevention is always better than cure. He was very firm when he said he wanted to change the Filipino eating habit and lifestyle. He also stressed that he wanted the nutrition facts – especially the calories, cholesterol, fats, sodium and carbohydrate contents – to be listed down by all food manufacturers especially fast food chains and that this requirement be made into a law. Sibulo said that his patients are getting younger each day and he wanted to be a catalyst of change and awareness for all Filipino people. He has patients as young as 15 years old. Dr. Sibulo said foods from fastfood chains are not necessarily junkfood if they just indicate the nutrition facts. Sibulo said you can never stop a child from craving for french fries, candies, tacos, sweet desserts, burgers, pizza and sodas but everything should be taken in moderation. Everything in excess is definitely bad. But there should be an awareness of what is the content of our food. How much cholesterol, fats, transfat, calories are in each bite of sandwich or pizza we take in. It is our right.

According to Sibulo , rather than take a radical approach by banning the simplest foods, judge the food based on the list of ingredients and Nutrition Facts labels found on the package. The determination of Nutrition facts should not be conducted by the fast food chain or manufacturer themselves but by a third party testing laboratory to avoid a biased label claims.

A look at the nutritional information on the label will list the number of calories per serving, gram of fat, sodium, cholesterol, fiber and sugar content. This nutritional information will empower you to reduce your nutritional health risk.

For an average Filipino person, 1,500 calories is the normal average intake. Sodium content per serving should be 2,300 mg or less. Avoid using the "sawsawan" because it stimulates the taste buds to eat more and ingest more sodium which is a major risk factor for a cardiac problem.

Sibulo finally said: "It is high time Filipino people find it a practice to exercise regularly, avoid smoking and read the nutrition labels in their food. This will definitely lessen the risk of a possible coronary heart disease. You are what you eat…This is the best way you can take good care of your heart…"

For comments and letters, you can email me at pptobiano@yahoo.com.ph