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The Real Reasons Why Fast Food is Bad for Kids
There’s a saying in business: “If you want it good, it won’t be fast. If you want it fast, it won’t be good.” It’s about the quality of work done but it’s just as applicable to food too. We know that fast food isn’t good for us. Even before Supersize Me hit movie theaters, it was an uncomfortable truth that although it was convenient, those meals weren’t doing our bodies any favors. Despite their attempts to broaden menus with fruit and lower-calorie options, the burger giants still face criticism based on what they offer. It’s unsurprising. A regular diet of fast food for children is bad for them. It means they won’t be getting the essential vitamins and minerals that they need to grow up strong and healthy. A burger meal also contains the kind of additives which can bring about addiction to these kinds of food, which is going to cause problems in later life.
As well as the effects on the inside of the body, what this kind of food also does to the outside must also be noted. We know that fast food causes obesity and this can trigger all kinds of psychological problems too, from depression and isolation to the continued inability to participate in school gym classes. The schoolyard can be a harsh enough place as it is without adding any other potential weaknesses into the mix. Give your kids a balanced diet to keep them healthy and active. Another well-known saying is “Give me the boy and I’ll show you the man,” which is all about how important childhood is in our development into adults. This also applies here, because it’s your job as a parent to bring up a well-balanced child who can make informed decisions for themselves about what they eat and how they eat it. It’s a tough responsibility but it’s one that you can manage. The power is in your hands to give your child a happy and fulfilling life!
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How Common Is Lactose Intolerance?
Lactose Intolerance is More Common Than You Think
Pizza, Mac n cheese, ice cream, froyo - many of our favorite foods have dairy as their main ingredient. However, there are plenty of other foods that have lactose as an ingredient, which comes from dairy, that we don’t think of, such as bread, soups, and sauces for pasta. This means that most Americans consume a lot of dairy each day. While dairy is good for providing calcium and protein in your diet, what many people don’t realize is that they are actually intolerant to it.
Research carried out by the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse discovered that up to 50 million Americans are lactose intolerant. This is bad news for the dairy industry. If all of those people decided to cut out dairy completely, then it would take a huge hit. However, most Americans prefer to ignore those noises in their tummy or the slight headache that they get after consuming dairy.
In fact, many people would rather suffer than give up cheese or chocolate. Some people even claim to have IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) when actually it’s more likely that they have lactose intolerance. Why are so many people unable to digest dairy properly? Cornell University recently reported that people whose ancestors were from places outside Europe were more likely to have an intolerance. This is because dairy herds weren’t raised safely in certain places, therefore milk wasn’t readily available. People whose ancestors come from Asia or Africa haven’t had milk in their diet for as long, therefore their digestive systems haven’t become accustomed to it. It’s pretty harmless to go on eating foodstuffs that contain dairy, but if it causes you a lot of discomfort, maybe consider reducing it. Alternatively, don’t eat a lot of items that contain dairy on the one day, or use it as a treat.
