Theres Food and theres Junk

Food has been described as edible or potage substances, usually of animal or plant origin, consisting of nourishing and nutritive components such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, essential minerals and vitamins, which, when ingested and assimilated through digestion, sustains life, generates energy and provides growth, maintenance and health of the body.

Junk food, on the other hand has been described as a derisive term for food that is of little nutritional value and often high in fat, salt, sugar and calories with little protein, vitamins or minerals.

There is a deep dichotomy between the two descriptions above and I say to myself that there is no such thing as junk food, the word being a misnomer. There is therefore either food or JUNK. Food nourishes and contributes to your wellbeing by promoting the health of the good bacteria in your gut, known as probiotics (pro= for, bios =life). Food helps to maintain the alkalinity of your body keeping your pH ratio in balance, which makes for homeostasis. Junk, on the other hand, contributes to an acidic environment, which in turn allows the bad bacteria to flourish, which gives rise to inflammation, which is a major cause of most degenerative sicknesses, which lead to premature death or morbidity.

When you eat JUNK you are taking in something that is high in saturated and trans- fat, sodium, cholesterol, processed sugars and empty calories. These contribute to high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, increased risk of heart attacks or stroke, cancers, diabetes, obesity and other health related problems. Foods considered as JUNK include salted snacks, sweet desserts, fried fast food and sugary carbonated beverages. None of these are regarded as part of a well- balanced diet.

Recent research suggests that JUNK, by virtue of its effect on brain activity, should be classified in the same way as cocaine or heroin as they all overload the brains pleasure centres leading to addiction. Since processed foods are loaded with synthetic chemical additives they are, technically, drugs. Remember also that a lot of this JUNK is not prepared by chefs but by scientists. Once addiction sets in, you need to eat more to get to the same level of pleasure you got from the previous helping. Eating JUNK leads to chronic overeating, due to its addictive nature. If this is not disturbing enough, another piece of research suggests that when pregnant women eat regular JUNK their new born babies are born with a predisposition to JUNK. This is a health problem with a massive downward spiral.

Junk does not only relate to fried chicken and ribs but to some breakfast cereals as well, which on the surface appear innocent but contribute little by way of nutrition since they only contain sugar and white flour with no vitamins, minerals or even fibre. When was the last time you read the label on that carton of drink you bought? You may find the words aspartame, fructose, corn syrup or HFCS (high fructose corn syrup), all, from reports, linked to cancer. And what about fast food, you say. This has been described as food that is pre- prepared to make waiting time short. Lets face it. With very few exceptions, most fast food is JUNK.

A national newspaper carried an article last September which said Alzheimers could be the most catastrophic impact of junk food, making a clear connection between the additives and chemicals in JUNK and their effects in the brain. We have a global time bomb whose fuse has already been lit with no way to defuse it. My advice is simple. Look out for your loved ones. Dont let JUNK make them or you a JUNKIE. JUST JUNK IT.

Vasco Stevenson (blackhealth.co.uk)