Various kinds of fast food items that may cause cancer among regular consumers - Essay Example

?Research Paper INTRODUCTION Eating healthy to live healthy; one of the most common notions of the 21st century, shaping the social life of human kind from every dimension, class and cluster. However, in this modern day context, individuals are adapted to consume certain food items that impose adverse impacts upon their health. It is worth mentioning that increased level of globalization and gaining momentum of internationalization along with urbanization have extensively affected the eating habits of the individuals. Owing to lack of leisure time or adequate time for relaxation, people decide to consume high calorie fast food items, which are popularly acknowledged as ‘Junk foods’ that are available readily at a cheap cost and is time convenient too. It can be apparently observed in this similar concern that fast foods or junk foods impose severe impacts upon its regular consumers’ health in terms of serious chronic diseases, such as cancer, tumor, ulcer and many others. As a consequence, regular intake of fast food items has also contributed towards the rising number of instances of diseases such as diabetes mellitus and coronary artery infection among others. By taking into concern the impact of fast or junk foods upon the health of the individuals, it can be affirmed that regular consumption of healthy or nutritious foods has been replaced by the latest food mantra served by many large brands around the globe (Ashakiran and Deepthi 7-15). With this concern, the research paper intends to analyze the various kinds of fast food items and other food items that may cause cancer among regular consumers. Moreover, the average quantity consumption of fast food that can lead to cancer has also been researched in this paper. Accordingly, certain solutions or preventive measures have been suggested in the research paper that can be beneficial in mitigating the increasing number of cancer patients in the worldwide context. A BREIF IDEA ABOUT FAST FOOD OR JUNK FOOD In the recent phenomenon, various charges have been brought against fast food industry players based on the social concern of their contribution to the rising rate of cancer diseases. For instance, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) filed a suit against several major restaurants along with fast-food chains such as McDonald’s and Burger King among others accusing these fast food giants to serve food items comprising carcinogens, resulting in augments risks of cancer (Anrig, “The Fast-Food Dilemma: Trans Fats and Cancer Risks”). In general, fast foods or junk foods represent empty calorie based food items. In this regard, empty calorie based foods are regarded as those items containing high proportion of calorie and have deficiency in micro-nutrients like minerals, vitamins, amino acids and fiber among others (Ashakiran and Deepthi 7-15). It can be apparently viewed that junk foods are normally featured as easily accessible, quick and economical substitutes, especially to home-cooked meals (Demand Media, Inc., “Definition of Fast Foods”). In precise, junk food items are quite easy to prepare as well as to consume and are also readily available in abundance as well as in wide range of varieties. They are typically observed to have lesser nutritional value along with comprising greater level of sugar, fat and salt. A few of the common junk foods comprise carbonated drinks, snack foods that are salted and fried food items. It is quite evident in this context that the consumption of fast foods has become one of the major problems for the individuals in today’s modern day context, as this particular social trend causes significant negative effects on the human health and also on the average mortality rate in the societal realm. In response it can be noted that there are certain nations, which have adopted effective actions in order to address and mitigate the aforesaid problem identifiable as a 21st century social lifestyle trend. It is in this context that higher amount of taxes are imposed by governments on fast food industry, wherein many nations have also applied rules forbidding advertisements of junk foods particularly those showcasing children. Governments have also taken collective measures with the objective of raising greater awareness about the adverse impacts of consuming junk foods upon human health (Johnson, Sahu, and Saxena 1-24). TYPES OF FAST FOODS CAUSING CANCER IN CONSUMERS As discussed earlier, the consumption of fast food items impose noteworthy unfavorable impacts upon the health of the individuals by causing various sorts of diseases including cancer. In this similar perspective, it can be viewed that there are certain fast food items that may cause the development of cancer in consumers more rapidly with greater possibilities as compared to any other fast food item. Specially mentioning, “Grilled chicken” can be recognized as a sort of fast food item, which tends to cause the development of cancer in its frequent or regular consumers raising the risks associated with prostate along with breast cancer and other forms of cancer diseases. It can be affirmed that Grilled chicken delivered through fast food outlets comprise certain cancer-causing chemicals such as heterocyclic amines (HCAs), which eventually raises the possibility of cancer amid individuals preferring frequent consumption of the same (Kage, “Fast Food Chicken Contains Cancer-Causing Chemicals; Warning Labels Sought”). According to the research study of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, consuming deep-fried fast food items also boosts the risks of prostate cancer in consumers. Moreover, the research study revealed that certain types of fast food items such as fried chicken, fish or fried doughnuts and French fries among others may cause the development of prostate cancer in particular among its consumers. Anselmo in “The Fast Food That May Cause Cancer” thus argues that when oil is heated to high temperature, it generates certain carcinogenic compounds, especially on the specific fast food product. It is worth mentioning that deep frying at a high temperature might alter the food constitutions too, resulting in the reaction and formation of harmful chemical components, which might damage the Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in the human body at large, which not only holds the key of proper functioning of the various body parts, but also is likely to raise cancer possibilities amid the individual (Anselmo, “The Fast Food That May Cause Cancer”). Apart from the above discussed fast food items, certain other fast foods can also be apparently observed as causing cancer chances in consumers. In this similar context, these foods comprise crisps, bread, chips, biscuits, alcoholic drinks, excess amounts of salt, peanuts, grains and red meat items. Certain reasons can be apparently viewed for the contributory role, played by these foods in causing risks of chronic cancer in the targeted consumers. In relation to the food items like crisps, bread, chips and biscuits, a harmful chemical i.e. acrylamide can be found, which may result in nerve damages along with affecting male fertility and eventually triggering cancer by hindering body immune system. This particular chemical is generally formed by baking or frying carbohydrate-rich based foods such as cereals, rice and potatoes among others, imposing adverse impact upon the health of the individuals, raising chances of cancer in them (Coleman, “Cancer: Foods To Avoid?). It is quite evident that the intake of strong alcoholic-drinks on a consistent manner shall result in increased level of risks for cancer in mouth, liver, bowel, oesophagus and breast. In accordance with the report published by the British Medical Journal, it can be viewed that the consumers or the individuals who consume huge quantities of red meat such as of pork and lamb along with processed meat like sausages and hamburgers regularly, are at greater risk of having bowel cancer. It is the chemical i.e. heterocyclic amines, which is formed at the time when the meat is fried, baked, charred or burned, affecting the human body at regular consumptions. The report published by the British Medical Journal also revealed that greater consumption of this chemical may promote increased risk of cancer in the individuals. With regard to salt, it can be viewed that high intake of salt based diets is linked with increased level of risks particularly for stomach cancer. This can be justified with reference to the fact that the food items including processed meat and bacon among others containing greater proportion of salt might inflame along with damage the soft lining portion of individuals’ stomach, making them vulnerable towards malignant tumors. On the other hand, foods such as grains and peanuts also contribute in the development of cancer in consumers. This can be owing to the reason that a fungus named aflatoxins is often observed in these food items, which eventually augments the risk of liver cancer in the consumers’ body. This fungus is also duly considered as one of the harmful chemicals, which is mainly produced through moulds that are found in the food items like cereals and nuts, especially in tropical nations (Coleman, “Cancer: Foods To Avoid?). After acquiring a brief idea about the various sorts of fast foods that may cause the development of cancer in its consumers at a greater rate as compared to other food items, it can be affirmed that the regular intake of junk foods is quite enough for the customers to be affected with cancer (Cancer Council, “Fast Food: Exposing the Truth”). SOLUTIONS OR PREVENTATIVE MEASURES Based on the above discussion, it can be evidently observed that fast food or junk food products might cause greater risk of cancer in its regular consumers. It can also be affirmed in this similar concern that the regular consumption of the aforementioned fast food items are adequate enough for the consumers to get cancer, which can be identified in the breasts and liver of any other part of the body, principally because the chemicals released through these food items preliminary hinders the immune system of the body, further augmenting the chances of cancer risks. It is thus clear from this proclamation that fast food products impose unfavorable impacts upon the health of the consumers or the individuals, which is incessantly becoming a significant concern for them. In this regard, certain valuable solutions along with effective preventative measures have been provided to address and mitigate this crucial concern. One of the solutions or the preventative measures in restricting the development of cancer in consumers through the regular intake of junk food products is discarding the consumption of these products in a slow and steady manner. It is worth mentioning in this context that the consumption of healthy balanced diets is recognized to be the other effective solution or preventative measure, which can restrict the development of cancer in its consumers to a large extent. Conceptually, greater awareness must be created regarding the consumption of healthy balanced diets that comprise food items such as abundant fresh fruits along with vegetables, rice, potatoes, bread, fish, egg, meat and milk among others. It is quite evident from this understanding that the intake of these food products are likely to ensure the deliverance of nutrients to human body, resulting in lessening the risks of cancer (NHS, “Reduce Your Cancer Risk”). Apart from consuming healthy diets, maintaining a healthy weight can also be viewed as the other valuable solution and effectual preventative measure for lessening the risks of cancer as caused due to the consumption of junk food on a regular basis. Evidences obtained in this regard that the consumers often become overweight or experience obesity due to the regular consumption of fast food or junk food products. These diseases of obesity and overweightness eventually raise an increased level of risk associated with the development of kidney, pancreatic, bowel and oesophageal cancers. Apart from this, the other effective solutions or the preventative measures that can be considered by fast food consumers to reduce the chances of being affected by cancer, can be suggested as drinking lesser proportion of alcohol and quitting smoking among others that would eventually result in restricting the development of cancer in customers by a certain degree (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, “Adult Health”; NHS, “Reduce Your Cancer Risk”). CONCLUSION From the above analysis, it can be affirmed that there are different sorts of fast food products, which may cause high cancer risks among its regular consumers. This disease might appear in the form of liver, breast and prostate cancers. Fast food items that can be viewed to cause the development of cancer in consumers are French fries, fried chicken, fish or doughnuts and “Grilled chicken” among others. It has also been examined in the above discussion that the chemicals used in these sorts of fast food products eventually contribute in high risk of cancer disease in the society. In this present day context, it can be viewed that the customers or the individuals regularly consume fast food items following a common Westernized social trend. The only preventive measure to this issue can thus be identified as generating awareness within the community people and assuring a more sustainable practice by the fast food industry players to encourage the use of organic items at larger quantities in the regular diet of common people. Works Cited Anrig, C. The Fast-Food Dilemma: Trans Fats and Cancer Risks. n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2013. Ashakiran, and Deepthi R. “Fast Foods and their Impact on Health”. Journal of Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences University 1 (2012): 7-15. Print. Anselmo, A. The Fast Food That May Cause Cancer. 2013. Web. 20 Nov. 2013. Coleman, Naomi. Cancer: Foods To Avoid?. 2013. Web. 20 Nov. 2013. “Fast Food: Exposing the Truth.” Cancer Council. n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2013. “Definition of Fast Foods”. Demand Media, Inc. 2013. Web. 20 Nov. 2013. Johnson, Sapna, Ramakant Sahu, and Poornima Saxena. “What Is Junk Food? Nutritional Analysis of Junk Food (2012): 1-24. Print. Kage, Ben. Fast Food Chicken Contains Cancer-Causing Chemicals; Warning Labels Sought. 2006. Web. 20 Nov. 2013. “Adult Health.” Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. 2013. Web. 20 Nov. 2013. “Reduce Your Cancer Risk.” NHS. n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2013. Read More