EFFECTS OF JUNK FOOD AND PROPOSED DIET TO LEAD HEALTHY LIFE – Eat Healthy, Live Healthy – Exclude Junk Food

 

EFFECTS OF JUNK FOOD AND PROPOSED DIET TO LEAD HEALTHY LIFE – Eat Healthy, Live Healthy – Exclude Junk Food

The ancient Ayurvedic text states, ‘One whose Doshas are in balance, Appetite is good, whose Body, Mind & Senses remain full of bliss; is called a Healthy Person.’

Consuming junk food on regular basis can lead to an increased risk of Obesity and Chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease, Type II Diabetes, Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and some Cancer.

Harmful Effect on Body by Intake Junk Food

Disorders	Causative Factor
Headache	Eating foods filled with sodium, like many fatty foods can increase risk of headache.
Acne	Carbs, not grease can trigger acne carb-heavy fast food like French fries, burger and potato chips may lead to acne breakouts.
Heart disease/Stroke	Elevated cholesterol & increased blood pressure are two of the top risk factors for heart disease & stroke.
Hypercholesterolaemia	Fried foods are filled with trans fats that are known to raise LDL cholesterol levels.
Weight Gain	Even though thinking that eating healthy at large quantity, you may underestimate the number of consuming calories which can lead to unintentional weight gain.
Blood Sugar Spike	Fast food is filled with worst carbohydrates which can cause frequent insulin spikes; this may alter human body’s natural response.
Insulin Resistance	Due to leading frequent insulin spikes junk food causes insulin resistance and type II diabetes.
Depression	Processed food affects our blood supply to brain that may increase the risk for depression.
Dental Distress	The carbs and sugar containing fast food produce acids that can destroy tooth enamel which lead to dental cavities
Shortness of Breath	Extra calories can turn into excess pounds. Without exercise to counteract the increase in calories, obesity may become a reality can cause shortness of breath & wheezing, even when performing very little physical activity.
High Blood Pressure	Fast food is typically high sodium diet which can elevate blood pressure or aggravate existing heart disorder including congestive heart failure.
Consuming Excessive Calories	People who eat junk food as well as processed food items tend to take extra 190 to 200 calories per day.
Bloating & Puffiness	Body may retain water if consume excessive sodium, leaving you feeling puffy, bloated & swollen.
Effect on Reproductive System	Fast food contains phthalates which chemicals interrupt low hormones act in our body; high levels of these chemicals could lead to reproductive issue including birth defects.
Integumentary System (Skin, Hair, Nails)	Junk foods impact skin’s appearance. Children and adolescents who eat fast food at least three times a week are also more likely to develop eczema, skin diseases. According to study eczema is a skin condition that causes initiated patches of inflamed, itchy skin.
Menstrual Health	Premenstrual symptoms, intensity of dysmenorrhea high in girls and adolescent who consuming junk foods regularly, junk food being deficient in micronutrients like vitamin B6, calcium, magnesium & potassium might also be responsible for premenstrual symptoms. PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) has also seen.
Constipation & other disorders	Soda & cola also contains phosphorus and other harmful chemicals which ruin the normal mechanism of body. Body becomes extremely acidic and prone to frequent sprains and fractures because of entire skeletal structure weak.

 

Moreover junk food is prepared very easily. It takes minimum time to prepare & does not have any nutritious ingredients. Most importantly junk food has become very accessible now, more than ever which destroys our health continuously.

Due to excessive consumption junk food, vitiation of Apana vayu, Vyan vayu results dhatu kshaya condition. Vayu is responsible for all type of movements (gati) in the body. The excess movements like atyanasevana & atigamana cause vitiation of Vyana vayu & Apana vayu respectively by karma samanya. Diva swapna results by augmentation of Kapha.

Due to junk food consumption Tridosha of body is vitiated, body may affect various types of disease. Balance & nutritious diet, healthy food containing vitamin, calcium, and proteins is required to maintain body function and stable tridosha, thus health can improve.

Ayurvedic texts emphasize ahara as vital for promoting health and happiness. Ayurveda creates health by enlivening the body’s inner intelligence to create harmony. Unlike modern nutrition thesis, which tends to recommended “one size fits all” guidelines that change with each new wave of research, Ayurvedic physicians maintain there is no one single diet or food that is healthy for all individuals.

Ayurveda identifies six major tastes we need in our diet every day – madhur amla lavana katu tikta kasaya (sweet, sour, salt, pungent, bitter & astringent). Each of these tastes has specific health giving effects. By including all six we will be most completely nourished & satisfied. When we consistently eat only a few of the tastes, it not only causes health problems but also trigger craving for unhealthy foods. For instance, fast food contains mostly sweet, sour and salty tastes. If we eat a steady diet of fast food, we can develop a craving for sweets. Adding more pungent, bitter and astringent tastes can help out of control desires for candy and dough nuts.

Balancing Act of Body

The six tastes also affect the Doshas. The Doshas increase or decrease on the principle of “like attracts like”. If someone has predominance of vata, he will have the tendency to accumulate more vata. Foods that decrease a Doshas are said to pacify that dosha, and foods that increase it aggravate it, sweet, sour, & salty foods pacify vata, sweet, pungent and bitter foods decrease pitta. Pungent, bitter and astringent foods pacify kapha.

·        Vata types foods that calm their tendency towards anxiety & over activity. Vatas can healthfully cook with move salt than pittas & kaphas.

·            Pitta needs to be cooled down. Pitta thrives on reduced amount of fats, oils & salt. Sweet, completely ripe fruits and all vegetables except garlic, tomatoes, radish and chilies are pitta pacifying. Coconuts, pomegranates, grilled vegetables, salad and rice pudding all reduce pitta.

·        Kapha- Light, dry, warm foods reduce pitta such as barley, buckwheat are the best for kapha type. Pumpkin and sunflower seeds and all beans with the exception of oilier soybean are excellent.

Ayurvedic Principle of Digestion –Agni & Ama

Ayurvedic text says the process of digestion to cooking over a flame. Digestive fires collectively called “Agni”, cook food so the nutrients can be optimally utilized. When Agni is strong, our body fully assimilates nutrients and eliminates what it doesn’t need.

The food we eat produce a biochemical called gas, if the digestive fire is weak, the incompletely digested portion of the meal forms a sticky, toxic substance called ‘Ama’. It settles in various areas of the body that are out of balance, taking on many forms, such as calcium deposits in joints, cysts & tumors. To prevent Ama from forming, drink plenty of warm or room temperature water. Eat freshly prepare food; do not eat at late night.

Aspects of Individual Health

1) Proper nourishment

2) Proper strength

3) Desire & appetite for intake of food

4) Proper digestion of food ingested at proper time

5) Sleep early

6) Absence of pathological or dreadful dreams

7) Feeling of freshness after waking up in morning

8) Proper evacuation of feces, urine & flatus at proper time

9) Proper functioning of mental faculties, intelligence and senses

10) Absence of any kind of pain & inflammation

 

Preferable Food Items (Daily Basis)

1.  Edibles prepared with cereals like wheat (gehun) & barley (yava)

2.  Condiments prepared from animal meat of dry land

3.  Jivanti (Holostemma ada kodien), Radish (muli), Basal (Vastuka-Bathua), Haritaki (Terminilia Chebula), Amlaki (Embilica Officinalis), Patola (Snake gourd), Moong (Green gram), Pomgranate (Dadim) and Saindhav lavana (Rock salt) are desirable for regular use

4.  Fenugreek (methika) has high fibre content and useful in reducing blood glucose, cholesterol & triglycerides.

5.  Green vegetables like karela (bitter gourd), lettuce leaves, ladies finger (bhindi), carrot (gajar), soya beans, drumstick and jambu seeds are having beneficial effect. Curd, kshara, vinegar, radish, dried meat, meat of sheep, tuberous roots, fiber of lotus, dried leaves & molasses are taken regularly which is beneficial for healthy life style.

By reducing consumption of junk foods, state of Agni is maintained and formation of all dhatus, upadhatus takes place, tridoshas of body works properly which helps to lead a healthy life.

 

(Article noted by Radha Jha, CGHS Prayagraj (Allahabad), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare; Govt. of India)