"Photo Credit to Julie Ann Biggs out on the Mekong River, Cambodia Vietnam Border."

Jack Downey Comments on Canadian Issues to Inform and Amuse.

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Is Fast Food Junk Food or Vice Versa?

The second oldest profession in the history of the world is the provision of 'Fast Food.' The culture of every society, past or present, no matter how remote or primitive, includes some form of 'Fast Food.' This convenience allowed the hunter-gatherer and, later, the farmer-villager to complete necessary tasks away from the residence for extended periods of time. Our own culture has pushed fast food to its limits. It is now so prevalent, so mass-produced, and often so lacking in balanced nutrition, that it is is thought to be, and is called, 'JUNK FOOD.'

Looking closeley at the nature of fast food, one discovers that it is not necessarily equivalent to junk food. Quality of ingredients is the difference between nutritious fast food and the junk food that is turning North America into a nation of overweight junk food junkies.

Of all the fast foods in the world, the humble Hamburger seems to stand head and shoulders above all others as a complete meal on it's own. This is only true until you add extras like the ubiquitous 'fries and shake.' It seems obvious to me that extras are the basic cause of overweight youth in North America. When you add all the extras in picture two, masses of calories are absorbed. I put hot dogs are second in the North American, Junk food list and then deep fried chicken in a tie with pizza.

Lets look at the favourite fast foods of some other countries...

The English love their fish and chips, which contain Grease Galore!


The Australian Meat pie is a meal in one, with salad, but you'd have to find "a Pub with no Beer!"


Poutine, Quebec's deaths wish, is made of chips, cheese, and gravy… an absolute artery buster.


Over on the continent, we find the French croissant with fruit and Garden greens and coffee with whiped cream. To reduce harmful side effects, the French like to include a glass of red wine.


In Germany, the Bratwurst is a popular snack, often washed down by a litre of beer.


If your mouth is watering, you'd better get some exercise as all of the above are classed as junk food. Nevertheless, we all seem to enjoy their taste and ease of preparation. Eating this kind of fast food is like playing Russian Roulette and certainly won't make you any faster!

Here is a summary of some information on overweight and obesity I found on the web:

• The World Health Organization considers juvenile obesity a worldwide epidemic!
• Overweight and obesity are major contributors to high blood pressure; high cholesterol; Type 2 diabetes; heart disease and stroke; gallbladder disease; arthritis; sleep disturbances and breathing problems; and endometrial, breast, prostate, and colon cancers. Generally, higher body weights correlate with higher rates of these diseases.
• Obese individuals often suffer from social stigmatization, discrimination, and lowered self-esteem.
• The annual cost of medical attention and lost productivity attributable to obesity is HUGE!
• Obesity tends to result from of a variety of social, behavioral, cultural, environmental, physiological, and genetic factors. For example, a healthy diet and regular physical activity · are both important for maintaining a healthy weight. Once overweight is established during adolescence, it is likely to remain in adulthood.
• The quality of food consumed in terms of the proportion of calories from fat, protein, and carbohydrate sources; salt, mineral, and vitamin content; and amount of dietary fiber plays a critical role in disease prevention.
• Although much progress has been made in making nutrition information available and in providing healthful food choices in supermarkets, challenges remain.
• One challenge is the composition of foods eaten away from home. As much as 40 percent of a family's food budget is spent in restaurants and on carry-out meals. Foods eaten away from home are generally higher in fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, and sugar and are lower in fiber and calcium than foods prepared and eaten at home.
• Another challenge is that parents will have a difficult time competing with the very sophisticated and targeted advertising that constantly tempts their children to make unhealthy food and drink choices.
• Progressive Schools, that care about Youth Health, are switching their in-house vending machines to dispense fruit juices and other nutritional and non-sugar items. These schools have found no loss of revenue and fewer disruptive students riding caffeine and sugar highs.

You are what you eat and a good diet is for life. Junk Food brings an early death. IT'S YOUR CALL!

© Jack C. Downey CD

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