The California State Assembly has passed two bills specifically targeting the sale of food and beverages in middle and elementary schools. The bills stipulate clear requirements for the ingredients of food and beverages sold in public schools. Food sold on campus must not have more than 35% of its calories from fat, with no more than 10% of calories from saturated fat, and the sugar content must not exceed 35%. Beverages must contain 50% juice and must not have any artificial sweeteners.
"Refined" processing leads to loss of nutrition
1. When potatoes are sliced and then fried in high-temperature oil at 200°C, all the vitamins in the potatoes are destroyed. The resulting potato chips and french fries not only contain large amounts of oil and oxidized substances, but also contain carcinogenic substances—acrylamide. Furthermore, puffed foods made from shrimp or squid have their proteins oxidized after being fried.
2. In the canning process, the freshness and nutritional value of the ingredients are preserved from the moment of picking. Therefore, manufacturers often add nutrients and additives such as artificial colors, flavors, and sweeteners to maintain good color and taste. Almost all canned foods contain preservatives.
3. Vitamins in fruit are easily lost. Soaking in water for 10 minutes can cause about a 10% loss of vitamin C. Combined with high temperatures and alkaline solutions, vitamins are destroyed even faster. After such a tedious processing process, there is almost no vitamin left in preserved fruits. At the same time, during processing, carcinogenic nitrites are added to prevent fruit from rotting, and high salt intake is harmful to human health.
4. Popcorn is made from corn, which is rich in fiber, low in calories, and contains almost no sugar, salt, or fat. However, modern microwave popcorn contains a large number of additives to improve taste. Excessive sugar and flavors are harmful to the body. In addition, the high-pressure poppers used by street vendors are lead pots that are harmful to the body.
5. Instant noodles contain preservatives and flavors, which can have potential adverse effects on the liver. As for grilled food, high temperatures not only destroy vitamins but also cause the proteins in meat products to char and denature. The smoke contains carcinogens—benzopyrene—which also gets smoked onto the food.
The "junk food" market is gradually shrinking
In recent years, nutritionists in China have been strongly urging consumers to eat as little or no "junk food" as possible. Governments in the United States, Britain and other countries have clearly strengthened the control of advertising for foods like potato chips.
The California State Assembly has passed two bills specifically targeting the sale of food and beverages in middle and elementary schools. The bills stipulate clear requirements for the ingredients of food and beverages sold in public schools. Food sold on campus must not have more than 35% of its calories from fat, with no more than 10% of calories from saturated fat, and the sugar content must not exceed 35%. Beverages must contain 50% juice and must not have any artificial sweeteners. The bill has kept foods like french fries and cola out of school gates.
According to reports, in the United Kingdom, the total sales of such foods have decreased from 306,000 tons in 2002 to 268,000 tons in 2005.
The Health Promotion Office of Thailand's Ministry of Public Health has suggested that relevant departments strengthen the review of food labels and the management of advertising, and prohibit the sale of carbonated drinks and snacks in schools.
In South Africa, the South African Obesity Control Department has proposed that the government impose high taxes on unhealthy foods such as high-fat, high-calorie fast food and sugary soft drinks to address the growing obesity problem in South Africa. Improving processing methods is the way out
Fruit and vegetable crisps are made from fresh fruits and vegetables, which are nutritious in themselves, but after being fried, the nutrients are destroyed, and they also become high-oil, high-fat foods. In fact, the raw materials for "junk food" like potato chips, preserved fruits, lamb skewers, and fruit cans are all rich in nutrients, but due to improper processing methods, they have ultimately become "junk food."
Stay away from junk food to protect your health
Let's compare the food we eat every day. How much of it is junk food? It is undeniable that we inevitably come into contact with the junk foods listed above every day, and it seems impossible to avoid them completely. However, we can still try our best to avoid eating too much of these foods!
In fact, there are many foods that can replace junk food. The best foods announced by the World Health Organization include:
First, the best fruits, in order, are papaya, strawberry, orange, tangerine, kiwi, mango, apricot, persimmon, and watermelon.
Second, the best vegetables, including sweet potatoes (rich in vitamins and a cancer fighter, ranking first among all vegetables), asparagus, cabbage, broccoli, celery, eggplant, beets, carrots, shepherd's purse, kohlrabi, enoki mushrooms, pickled mustard green, and Chinese cabbage.
Third, the best meats, including goose, duck (their chemical structure is similar to olive oil, which is beneficial to the heart), chicken, fresh fish, and shrimp.
Fourth, the best soups, with chicken soup being the best. Especially hen soup has the effect of preventing and treating colds and bronchitis, and is especially suitable for drinking in winter and spring.
Fifth, the best cooking oils: corn oil, rice bran oil, sesame oil, olive oil, peanut oil, etc., are particularly good. The ratio of vegetable oil to animal oil should be 1:0.5.
Sixth, the best brain-protecting foods: vegetables such as spinach, chives, pumpkin, onion, broccoli, bell peppers, peas, tomatoes, carrots, bok choy, garlic sprouts, and celery; shell foods such as walnuts, peanuts, pistachios, cashews, pine nuts, almonds, and soybeans; and coarse rice, pork liver, etc. In short, as long as they are fresh and processed in a healthy way, vegetables, fruits, meats, and staple foods are all healthy foods.