CAIRO - “We are very busy all the day and we can't live without fast food restaurants, but we look at the menu first to check on the nutritional contents of what we're going to order, for the sake of our health,” says Nora Mohamed, a student in the Faculty of Pharmacology, Cairo University. “In Egypt, there are restaurants for poor and rich alike. Some offer traditional Egyptian specialities like fuul [broad beans] and ta'amiya [filafel], which the poor can afford, while there are many restaurants that cook French and Italian dishes for the rich. But we care about our health.” Most Egyptians live very busy lives and want everything in a hurry. They even need to eat quickly, often on the hoof, so fast food is the name of the day. Flavoursome fast food can be cooked for the customer within a matter of minutes. There are more and more fast food restaurants in Egypt, so it's no wonder that more and more people are flocking to eat their highly attractive dishes. “Many fast food restaurants offer good service, low prices and a relaxed atmosphere, with meals ready for the family within minutes,” says Mohamed Naggui, a professor in the Nutrition Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University. He adds that there is no control over how fast foods are cooked: some are cooked with a lot of oil and butter, and many people aren't aware of the possible dangers to their health. “People need to know that fast food causes obesity, because of the unhealthy ingredients, used to make the dishes more tasty. “Most fast food contains a lot of salt to preserve it; salt can cause high blood pressure and heart disease. It also contains artificial colouring to increase the appetite. This can also be very harmful,” he explains. Fast food is unhealthy and can be very harmful as it is cooked incorrectly and in a matter of minutes. “People with high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease must be careful about eating fast food, because it often contains a lot of fat, sodium and sugar,” he warns. Mohamed Reda, a professor of botany, Faculty of Science, Helwan University, says: “Today's generation are surviving on fast food, ignoring its bad effects on health. Fast food leads to high cholesterol levels, cardiac problems and much else.” He adds that most people don't care about what they eat and its nutritional value. “Fast food lacks nutritional value, as it is rarely made of fresh vegetables, so it also lacks vitamins and minerals. “Buying local products like fresh vegetables and fruit from markets or farmers, and cooking them at home is much better, as it means your food is fresher, healthier and better tasting than food from restaurants. Good nutrition depends on the quality and freshness of food,” stresses Prof. Reda. “There are many types of fast food like burgers, pizzas, fries, pasta, chicken, beef, salads, and sandwiches containing eggs, cheese, jam, etc.” says Marwa Ahmed, a student in the Faculty of Science, Cairo University. She adds, however, that not all fast food is bad, it can have negative or positive effects. “Mothers who spend all day working outside home don't have enough time to cook for their children, so fast food is the only solution. “And there are places that offer low-price sandwiches for ordinary people who work all day in the streets,” Marwa explains. “Many foods are considered unhealthy if you eat too much of them. Fast food isn't harmful if you only eat it once a week,” says Laila Bassiouni, a professor in the Nutrition Department, Helwan University. “You can actually eat a well-balanced, nutritious meal at a fast food restaurant. Today, more and more fast food restaurants are offering healthier options and new menu items, so you can choose what is good for you.” She adds that many fast food restaurants offer their customers soft drinks like Coke, Pepsi and Fanta, which contain a lot of sugar and colouring too. They are unhealthy and can lead to high blood pressure. “People should be careful when they choose their nutritious meals, as food is something vital for every living creature. It's good to go to restaurant that offer salads, soups and fresh vegetables.”
