Since childhood we are told that home food is healthy food. In the late 90s a breakfast revolution occurred in which the traditional Indian breakfast was replaced by cornflakes, green tea, Quinoa, oats, chia seeds, etc. India is ranked 13 as the one of the biggest consumers of processed food. As per reports, Indians spend more on buying packaged food than eating home cooked meals. People prefer consuming junk food because it is cheaper, delicious and is available everywhere.
Most of the packaged food has commonly three ingredients namely preservatives, excess salt and food colours. Therefore, this kind of food is termed as ultra processed food (UPFs). The usage of these ingredients is quite harmful. They end up killing the good bacteria in our bodies, trigger breathing problems, make children hyperactive, weaken heart tissues, and can cause other severe health problems. Ultra-processed food increases the risk of various health problems which includes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, mental disorders, depression, asthma, cancer, etc.
Let’s talk about most popular packaged food that are considered healthy but can have serious impact on our health:
· Green tea has been the highest selling wellness product in India. Many people consider elixir to health. It helps in burning fat, preventing diabetes, improving brain functions and preventing cancer. Getting into ill-effects green tea contains caffeine that cause several side effects such as insomnia, anaemia, acidity, diarrhoea and high blood pressure.
· Protein bars have micronutrients, natural sweeteners, healthy fats, and high fibres. People have a misconception that protein bars are really healthy but in reality, it contains high amounts of added sugar and use unhealthy sweeteners like high fructose corn syrup, which adds excess fructose to your diet and can increase risk of fatty liver, obesity and diabetes when consumed in high amounts.
Apart from human beings, ultra processed foods also have negative impact on the environment. Many of the preservatives present inside it are made from petroleum-based chemicals that can contaminate the air, water and soil. The preservatives and chemicals that are used to enhance color or flavour of food are endocrine disruptors as they affect the hormone levels of the body.
Therefore, it is essential to consume food with minimal chemicals and preservatives to reduce the contamination in the living of biotic factors in the environment. It is important to consume a diet that is based on whole natural food. One should read labels carefully to ensure that harmful chemicals and preservatives are not being consumed.