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By: Maria T. Street, Wed Mar 10th, 2010
A long-term, in case of abuse of unhealthy foods . Anyway, others never think about what we eat every day and what it may cause to our future health. It is paradoxical that in developed countries where they committed more crimes against public health people eat the worst.
In the U.S., 60 million people are served each year in the emergency department with clear symptoms of food poisoning due to unhealthy foods: diarrhea uncontrollable, abdominal pains and cramps, nausea, vomiting, sweating ... The Ministry of Health acknowledges that some 15,000 people are poisoned each year from eating adulterated food or in poor condition, being the most frequent cases of salmonella and botulism.
Half of the poisoning cases are caused by incorrect handling of food at home, but the remainder is adulterated food during the production and marketing process, resulting in consumers innocent and helpless victims. These are some of the major threats currently on the consumer health:
The additives are often inadequately consumed preservatives, dyes, antioxidants ... and have caused numerous cases of collective poisoning. Many additives can be toxic or dangerous to health, although they are permitted
Genetically engineered foods: in 1996 GM products sold in European supermarkets and it is unclear whether they can produce new toxins and allergens. It would be useful some information about these foods and then let people decide whether to consume them or not.
Bacteria. The presence of Salmonella and Campylobacter in unhealthy foods can cause diarrhea and gastroenteritis. In Europe, the use of antibiotics has increased in recent years on farms to produce an artificial fattening of poultry. As a result, in Spain 80% of chickens are carriers of Campylobacter and in the UK, 30% of chickens have salmonella.
Escherichia coli is wreaking havoc among consumers of hamburgers. Only in the United States each year 20,000 people were ill, of which 250 die hopelessly. Also, some foods and canned foods contain clostridia, bacteria responsible for many cases of botulism, a disease that can lead to death by paralysis of respiratory muscles.
Fruits, vegetables, dairy and processed foods often contain listeria, bacteria that can cause spontaneous abortions and meningitis. Staphylococci present in processed meat, fish, milk and custard can cause nausea, vomiting, cramps, diarrhea, fever and intense headache.
Hormones. The meat treated with hormones may cause mild intoxication, palpitations, headache, tremors, abnormal liver functions. The long-term effects are unknown. The nervous system, head, liver and the motor system may be harmed. In Spain, there are still frequent cases of illegal use of clenbuterol.
Many fish and fruits can contain heavy metals. 3,000 people were affected and 115 died from Minamata disease. Eating fish contaminated with mercury can cause death and is a mineral lifetime accumulates in the body. Too much lead causes anemia, digestive problems, nervous system degeneration and difficulty concentrating and memorizing. Cadmium causes osteoporosis, bone demineralization, diarrhea and kidney pain. The excess copper in fruit can cause anxiety, depression, irritability, hypertension, migraines, anemia and angina.
Pesticides and pesticides. Their residues in fruits and vegetables, affect the brain, liver and reproductive system. They accumulate in fatty tissue. Some researchers link the decline in sperm quality has been recorded during the second half of the twentieth century with the use of these substances.
Refined flour. Vitamins, minerals, protein and fiber-containing grain from which they come they are extracted in the refining process. What you buy is starch, although he added vitamins, (ironically, first you extract the natural and then they put artificial), they are not assimilated by the body in the same way as the natural product.
Refined oils and fats. Denatured products are subjected to processes such as hydrogenation, which is to use a heated nickel catalyst to put the hydrogen in the carbon atoms of linolenic acid. This prevents the oil turns rancid easily and thus can be sold without storage problems for the benefit of manufacturers and dealers, eliminating taste and odor, clarifies and provides an end product almost transparent. Hydrogenation destroys the essential fatty acids.
Canned goods. Think of the months or years since the development of preparations that you buy in a can. Beyond that, most are added preservatives and chemical additives and packaging, the can itself may suffer damage or alterations that affect the product.
Maria T. Street
3038 Junior Avenue
Atlanta, GA 30303