HARMFUL EFFECTS OF JUNK FOOD AND HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES IN AYURVEDA

Ahara, nidra and brahmacharya are the basic needs of life. Among them Ahara has been recognized as an important factor for human beings in health and diseased state. Food supplies bio-energy to the body and plays a decisive role in development, sustenance, reproduction and termination of life. In today’s life style, fast food / junk food are very popular. High content of trans fat in such food items affect the health adversely. Junk food and children have strange affinity to each other. Eliminating the temptation for junk food is the one way to avoid it. Keeping good food nearby and having meals right on time may help in this direction. With the changing life style, fast food and Junk food are becoming part of food habit. Such food is high in trans-fat and has comparatively less nutritive value, resulting in health issues like weight gain and obesity. Hence, it is the need of hour to evaluate the sedentary lifestyle, food habits and harmful effects. The aim of this article is to compile healthy food preparations in Ayurveda and thereby reducing the use of junk foods in people.