Eating of fast-food: Risking cancer for convenience

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Our demand for fast food is on the increase as demonstrated by the number of fast-food restaurants being opened on our high streets on regular basis and the ability of these restaurants to continue to operate and make profit.   This demand stems from the fact that some of us cannot cook due to our busy lifestyle while others do not have the skills for cooking.  However, this convenience provided by fast food might be a recipe for our tendency to suffer caner.

Consumption of fast-food leads to excessive intake of saturated fat and sugar into the body.  The amount of fat in a big Mac (250g) serving for example is 29g, which is about 45 per cent of the recommended daily intake of fat for an adult.  Fast-food is also accompanied by fizzy drinks which is high in sugar.  The consequence of consuming fat and sugar excessively is an increase in body weight (overweight).  Overweight is a risk factor for a number of cancer including breast cancer, kidney cancer, oesophageal cancer and pancreatic cancer.

Fast food is also low in fibre.  It contains mainly fat, sugar and salt.  Food that is high in fibre includes whole grains and brown rice, fruit and vegetables.  There are two types of fibre – soluble and insoluble fibre.  Soluble fibre is absorbed by the body and help in lowering the level of bad cholesterol.  Insoluble fibre is not absorbed by the body but helps in preventing constipation by moving things in the intestine.   It is this insoluble fibre that helps in the growth of useful bacteria in the colon and prevents the growth of harmful bacteria associated with the growth of cancer.

For us to minimize our risk for cancer we need to reduce our intake of fast-food.  While cutting down our intake of fast-food we should increase our intake of food high in fibre and other valuable nutrients needed by our body such as whole grain, fruit and vegetables.   We should not forget that what is convenient for us today might be inconvenient for us tomorrow. 


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