Many teens never stop to think about what they are actually putting into their bodies. Today’s society makes it much easier to grab a bag of chips, order fast food, or sugary beverages than to prepare an actual meal with whole foods. While it may seem convenient and taste good, a lot of teens don’t realize that much of the food they’re eating is heavily processed, but many people assume it is harmless. However, the long-term effects of a highly processed diet can be far more dangerous than most teens realize.
Fast food has become part of everyday life. McDonald’s is a very popular fast food chain among teens for its convenience, accessibility, and good taste. The last thing someone thinks about when they are hungry and just need a fast meal to go is what is being put into their food. For example, the ingredients McDonald’s uses start as real food, but then they are manufactured with industrial additives, preservatives, and high amounts of sodium.
These preservatives and chemicals are used to slow down the mold and decay of the food. These chemicals carry heavy risks, including chronic inflammation and gut microbiome disruption. This can also lead to severe obesity and heart disease. The danger is not shown in a single meal but rather in the habit of eating this food every day
Economic factors also play a major role in food choices. A lot of processed and unhealthy food is much cheaper than healthy whole foods. This makes it easier for people to buy something cheaper that also tastes good over something much healthier for them and their gut. Prices of healthy foods make it harder for people to eat healthy, and people should acknowledge that just because it’s cheaper or tastes good doesn’t mean you should be eating it every day.
There have also been viral social media claims about Driscoll’s strawberries being a direct cause of cancer. While right now there is no scientific evidence that eating these strawberries leads to cancer, it is a strong reminder that even things that are labeled as healthy and organic don’t always mean they are the best things to eat.
The word poisoning is no longer an exaggeration when it comes to the food we are putting into our bodies. A lot of teenagers’ bodies are slowly being poisoned by ultra-processed and chemical-filled junk food. Even if it’s a hot dog or mac n cheese today, things have become heavily processed. The reality is the current food system floods our bodies with synthetic chemicals, heavy metals, and ultra-processed formulations that drive chronic disease and inflammation.
Even something as simple as a sugary drink could be labeled zero sugar, and the fake sugars could be even worse for your body. Our food is slowly turning more and more fake, and it’s time that teens and even adults acknowledge what we are putting into our bodies, because that is the bare minimum we could do for ourselves in order to maintain good health.
A lot of people don’t think before they put something into their bodies, and even though it doesn’t seem dangerous in the moment, it could be the direct cause of someone’s death, whether it causes health conditions or cancer. I don’t think we should wait until we are in a serious health crisis to start caring about our diet. Let’s make a change and start now!
