There is a great deal of controversy about what constitutes
an unhealthy diet and how precisely to define ‘junk food’. In general, however,
it can be stated that an unhealthy diet is one which does not contain a good
balance of all the components of the diet which are necessary to health, or
which is eaten in excess of the body’s requirements, or which places a strain
on the body’s metabolic system by introducing toxins and chemicals such as
preservatives and colouring which interfere with the natural processes of the
liver and intestine. Particularly toxic components of many people’s daily diets
are tea, coffee, and alcohol.
Both tea and coffee contain caffeine, which is a nervous
system stimulant, and which can be habit-forming. Cola-based drinks also
contain caffeine, and children in particular can become addicted to them.
Alcohol on the other hand is a central nervous system depressant, which exerts
its effects by loosening the inhibitions, which usually prevent us from acting
in an anti-social fashion. Whether stimulants of depressants, all these agents
have two things in common - they all have a rebound effect (hangover) when
their effects wear off, which can only be countered by waiting for them to
eliminate themselves from the body , or more commonly, taking more of them;
secondly, they are harmful to the body’s metabolism, particularly when taken in
excess.
Tip: A pleasant and satisfying hot drink can be made by
soaking a slice of lemon in hot water and drinking it. Alternatively, herb teas
such as rooibos tea, chamomile tea, or hibiscus tea or any of the herbal tea
mixtures can be pleasant and refreshing without being toxic to the body.
