gegar: 137.0 Junk Food @ Makanan Sampah?

Menjadi kegemaran kanak-kanak, remaja dan sebahagian dewasa kerana ia makanan yang cepat, mudah, ringkas dan tak banyak karenah. Order, prepare dan makan. Saya pun dulu, masa zaman kanak2 kemudian remaja dan sekarang "rematua" masih minatinya (kadang-kadang). Ramai di antara kita mungkin tidak mengetahui asal usul makanan tersebut yang kebanyakannya berasal dari negara Barat dan Eropah.

Jom kita tengok takrif/pengenalan makanan yang dinamakan "Junk food" atau makanan sampah? mengikut Wikipedia:

Berikut dipetik dari Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

A poster at Camp Pendleton’s 21-Area Health Promotion Center describes the effects of junk food that many Marines and sailors consume.

Junk food is a derisive slang term for food that is of little nutritional value and often high in fat,sugar, salt, and calories. It is widely believed that the term was coined by Michael Jacobson, director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, in 1972.

Junk foods typically contain high levels of calories from sugar or fat with little protein, vitamins or minerals. Foods commonly considered junk foods include salted snack foods, gum, candy, sweet desserts, fried fast food, and sugary carbonated beverages. Many foods such as hamburgers, pizza, and tacos can be considered either healthy or junk food depending on their ingredients and preparation methods with the more highly processed items usually falling under the junk food category. What is and is not junk food can also depend on the person's class and social status, with wealthier people tending to have a broader definition while lower-income consumers may see fewer foods as junk food, especially certain ethnic foods.

Despite being labeled as "junk" consuming such foods usually does not pose any immediate health concerns and is generally safe when integrated into a well balanced diet.

Definisi lain untuk junk food ialah:

Foods which fall under the umbrella of “junk food” vary, depending on a number of factors. Snack foods like chips, candies, and so forth are generally universally agreed upon as fitting in this cateogry, and some people also lump fast food like hamburgers, pizza, and fries into the group. In some communities, ethnic takeaway food like gyros, Indian curries, tacos, fish and chips, and so on is also considered to be junk food. [Rujukan: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-junk-food.htm#]

Kajian saintis tentang mengambil atau memakan makanan ini telah dibuat ke atas beberapa ekor tikus, berikut hasil penyelidikannya:

A study by Paul Johnson and Paul Kenny at the Scripps Research Institute in 2008 suggested that junk food consumption alters brain activity in a manner similar to addictive drugs like cocaine or heroin. After many weeks with unlimited access to junk food, the pleasure centers of rat brains became desensitized, requiring more food for pleasure. After the junk food was taken away and replaced with a healthy diet, the rats starved for two weeks instead of eating nutritious fare. A 2007 British Journal of Nutrition study found that female rats who eat junk food during pregnancy increased the likelihood of unhealthy eating habits in their offspring.

Jom pulak kita tengok, asal usul atau fakta menarik bagi SEPULUH makanan/minuman yang dikategorikan sebagai junk food:

PEZ atau peppermint candies berasal dari Hungary sejak tahun 1914.

29 Mac 1886 - lahirlah Coca Cola. Pada mulanya ia merupakan ubat yang dijual di kedai farmasi bagi mereka (bekas tentera yang cedera dalam peperangan) yang ketagihan morfin. Asalnya campuran coca dan coca wine (camporan alkohol).

Di Malaysia kita kenalinya sebagai "Gula Rambut." Ia direka oleh seorang doktor gigi (dentist) dan seorang pengilang gula-gula pada tahun 1897.

Marshmallow adalah makanan ringan mempunyai tekstur seperti buih yang lembut dalam pelbagai bentuk, aroma dan warna. Marshmallow akan cair di dalam mulut kerana merupakan hasil dari campuran gula atau sirap jagung, putih telur, gelatin, gam arab, danbahan perasa yang dikacau hingga kembang. Dikatakan telah wujud di Mesir sejak 2,000 tahun (B.C.) Sebelum Masihi lagi.

Kepingan ubi / potato chips Pringles - abu mayat pengasasnya yang meninggal ketika berusia 90 tahun pada tahun 2008 disimpan di dalam kotak ini bagi menghormati jasanya.

Kebanyakan minuman ringan mengandungi ALKOHOL! dan AWAS, di dalam sesetengah YOGURT mengandungi ALKOHOL dua kali banyaknya dari kandungan di dalam soda-pop.