One more carbohydrate meal (snack) we must avoid or use it occasionally, sparingly and cautiously

by sydshahid

Dr Shahid has summarized his six principles of health in a very simple form. Simplicity sometimes is not politically correct. Well.. what is wrong if people get the message and decide to live until 100 - 125 years and longer, without ever having to see any health care provider of any kind.

Dr Shahid's First Principle of Preventive Holistic Lifestyle (PHL) is your diet. Your diet is your LIFE. What you eat as nutrition (balanced diet) becomes life. That is why it is so important to eat a balanced diet.

Carbohydrates are the most important part of the balanced diet after proteins and fats. (proteins and fats have been discussed in detail already).

We have discussed carbohydrates as well as its role in a balanced diet.

Most frequently asked question about carbohydrates is:

What are the foods that contain carbohydrates?

We have discussed already cereals (wheat, maize and rice) and a little history of cereals.

We have also discussed in details the other four important carbohydrates (lentils, root crops, vegetables and fruits).

Now we continue with the carbohydrates that should be avoided or used occasionally, sparingly and cautiously. Most dangerous of those carbohydrates are soft drinks which were discussed in the last blog.

Lets now continue with another carbohydrate which is not an essential part of the balanced diet. In fact it is classified as "junk carbohydrate". It is called SNACK.

7. Snack or snack food (junk food)

A snack food (commonly called a snack) is mostly made from carbohydrates.

In Western culture it is a type of food not meant to be eaten as a main meal of the day – breakfast, lunch, or dinner – but one rather that is intended to assuage a person's hunger between these meals, providing a brief supply of energy for the body. The term may also refer to a food item consumed between meals purely for the "enjoyment of its taste".

Traditionally snacks were prepared from ingredients commonly available in the home, often leftovers, sandwiches made from cold cuts, nuts, fruit, and the like

With the multiplication of convenience stores, packaged snack foods are now a significant business. Snack foods are typically designed to be portable, quick and satisfying. Processed snack foods are designed to be less perishable, more durable, and/or more appealing than prepared foods. They often contain substantial amounts of sweeteners, salt and preservatives. An appealing ingredients such as chocolate, peanuts, and specially designed flavors (such as in flavored potato chips) are often added.

Almost all snack foods (packaged in sealed bags) are derived either from the flour or the whole grain of wheat, maize and rice (roasted or fried with added salt). Potatoes (potato chips), peanuts (roasted) and other nuts also add the list. Commercial preparation of these snacks have revolutionized our eating habits. The crispy, salty, savoury taste of these snacks makes them appealing and delicious. On top that "their easy portability" makes snack foods highly desirable while travelling, hiking, joy rides, on the beach etc.

Snack foods are often subjectively classified as junk food; they have little or no nutritional value, and are not seen as contributing towards general health and nutrition. With growing concerns for diet, weight control and general health, government bodies like Health Canada are recommending that people make a conscious effort to eat more healthy, natural snacks – such as fruit, vegetables, nuts and cereal grains – while avoiding high-calorie, low-nutrient junk food.

The snack food industry in market-driven societies such as the United States generates billions of dollars in revenue each year. The market for processed snack foods is enormous, and a number of large corporations compete rigorously to capture larger shares of the snack food market. Consequently, heavy promotions are used to convince consumers to buy snack foods. Processed snack foods are advertised far more than regular nutritional foods (such as fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy products), and the flashiest TV commercials and advertising campaigns are often designed to sell these products.
However, realizing the potential market discovered by companies such as Hansen's Natural, companies like Frito-Lay, PepsiCo, and Coca-Cola are now creating new alternatives for consumers.

Common types of snack foods are:

Chips

Cheese puffs/cheese curls, corn chips (Chitos, Nachos, Doritos etc), potato chips, pork rinds, pretzels, tortilla chips, shrimp chips/crab chips etc.

Candy

Chocolate bars, gumdrops, hard candy, jelly beans, lollipop etc.

Other snack foods

Crackers, cookies/biscuits, doughnuts, instant noodles, jerky, nuts and mixed nuts, popcorn, trail mix etc.

A word of caution:

Snack foods must never replace the main meal of the day. In a balanced diet, snack consumption (just like desserts) should be (none at all or) as minimum as possible.

Another word of wisdom

After a snack do not forget to brush your teeth. Sweet and sugary foods rot the teeth faster than you can imagine.

As a matter of fact you must brush your teeth within 10 minutes of every meal consumption.

Researches maintain that regular brushing of teeth after meals minimize your visits to a dentist. Some studies even claim that if brushing done properly soon after each meal, you may never need to visit a dentist for as long as you live.


We shall continue the list of other carbohydrates that should be avoided, till next time.

For comments and questions please write to:

syedshahidmd@yahoo.com.au

P.S. I must thank all of those readers who send me comments and questions. I must tell them that their inspiring comments and questions are highly appreciated. Please continue to write, preferably via email.

Posted 11/27/2008 7:32:44 PM
About the Author



Syed Shahid MD
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Perth,  WA

Interests: Dr Sydney Shahid has many interests. He ejoys reading scietific magazines. He likes to keep himself busy with latest medical researches. He has special interest in Alzheimer’s illness. he has strong evidence that this tragedy can be delayed (if not prevented) for as long as 25 - 30 years and even longer, if one follows Dr Shahid’d six principles of health faithfully. He likes to make friends with those who have similar interests as his. He has few friends and they all appreciate what he is doing for humanity. He believes in positive thinking. In his opinion one must pursue those interests which make one believe in oneself. He loves to play tennis, table tennis and cricket if he can find time. Travelling is his other interest. He has travelled all over the world. He enjoys different cultures and their varied way of life. Lately world politics has become his passion. He wishes to see peace in the world but he doesn’t think it is possible because of the greed in the mind of most of the industrialised nations who are exploiting third world countries. He is also interested in writing a book about his Six Principle of Health (EUREKA). He is already in the process of making it happen. He wants the whole world to know his secret of healthy long life.

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