VIETNAM NUTRITIONAL PORTAL
Using fast food and processed food is an increasing trend in modern society, especially among young people. Although it is very convenient, if you eat a lot and often, it will have a negative impact on your health.
According to Master, Doctor Nguyen Van Tien, National Institute of Nutrition , fast food often contains a lot of calories, a lot of fat , a lot of protein, and lacks vitamins and minerals , so the possibility of causing obesity for those who tend to abuse them is very high.
Fast food often does not meet nutritional needs and is unbalanced in terms of portion size. Fast food can contain some toxic substances produced during food processing and preservation.
Therefore, if fast food is consumed regularly and for a long time, it will have a negative impact on health and can lead to metabolic disorders such as hyperlipidemia, high blood pressure...
Most fast foods, including drinks and snacks such as burgers, fried chicken, hot dogs, french fries, milk tea, carbonated drinks... contain a lot of carbohydrates, with little or no fiber.
When these foods are digested, carbs are released as glucose (sugar) into the blood, leading to increased blood sugar levels and diabetes ...
Studies have identified a link between fast food consumption and an increased risk of developing or dying from heart disease.
Eating fast food can increase calories, total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium, plus sugar from soft drinks, which can alter metabolic factors that increase heart disease risk through increased body mass index and waist circumference, high triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein levels — a form of good cholesterol.
The primary concern surrounding fast food consumption is that it can provide an unbalanced nutritional intake. Specifically, consuming too much sugar can lead to obesity. The risk of heart disease increases as your weight and waistline increase. Eating too much salt increases blood pressure, another risk factor for heart disease. Regularly consuming excess saturated fat increases blood cholesterol levels, a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
Trans fat is a fat created during food processing. It is often found in fast foods such as: baked goods, cakes, cookies, pizza dough…
No amount of trans fat is good or healthy. Eating foods containing it can raise bad cholesterol and lower good cholesterol, and increase your risk of diabetes and heart disease.
A diet high in salt is also dangerous for people with blood pressure problems. Eating too much salt raises blood pressure and damages blood vessels. It also increases the risk of heart failure, heart attack, and stroke.
The number of meals using fast food and the choice of dishes play a major role in affecting your health. Therefore, to limit the negative effects, we should first limit the use of fast food.
According to nutritionists, to maintain good health you need a balanced diet. Each meal should have 4 food groups (starch, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals) and combine 15-20 different types of food every day.
Prioritize healthy foods when choosing foods. Choosing healthy foods will give us healthy meals and a healthy diet. This helps improve health and prevent the risk of disease.
Healthy foods are foods of natural, whole origin, low in saturated fat, trans fat, sugar and salt such as: green vegetables, fresh fruits, whole grains, healthy fats...
If using fast food, according to Master. Doctor Nguyen Van Tien, depending on the type (fast food rich in protein, rich in starch, high in fat, high in salt), we choose additional foods to add to the meal such as: adding more green vegetables and fruits to increase vitamins and fiber while helping to eliminate excess fat; reducing salt to make the dish blander.
In addition, it is necessary to regularly exercise every day depending on each person's health conditions and status such as: walking, running, jumping rope, badminton, volleyball...