THE EFFECTS OF FAST FOOD ON THE BODY

Fast foods often contain too many calories and too little nutrition. If fast food is a regular component of your diet, you might find yourself struggling with weight problems and ill health.

Grain-based desserts and pizza as well as soda, sports drinks and energy drinks make up the top sources of calories for kids age 2 to 18, according to the publication "Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010." With those stats, it's not so surprising that the obesity rate in children has risen from between 4 percent and 6 percent, depending on age range, in the early 1970s to between 10 percent and 20 percent by 2008. A diet laden with junk food not only affects weight but other facets of a child's life, too.

Effects of Fast Food on the Body

Food is fuel for your body. It has a direct impact on how you feel as well as on your overall health. Fast food isn’t necessarily bad, but in many cases it’s highly processed and contains large amounts of carbohydrates, added sugar, unhealthy fats, and salt (sodium).

These foods are often high in calories yet offer little or no nutritional value. When fast food frequently replaces nutritious foods in your diet, it can lead to poor nutrition, poor health, and weight gain. Tests in lab animals have even shown a negative effect in short duration diets. Being overweight is a risk factor for a variety of chronic health problems including heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.

According to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, most people underestimate the number of calories they’re eating in a fast-food restaurant. A 2013 study published in JAMA Pediatrics showed that children and adolescents take in more calories in fast food and other restaurants than at home. Eating at a restaurant added between 160 and 310 calories a day.

Digestive and Cardiovascular Systems

Many fast foods and drinks are loaded with carbohydrates and, consequently, a lot of calories. Your digestive system breaks carbs down into sugar (glucose), which it then releases into your bloodstream. Your pancreas responds by releasing insulin, which is needed to transport sugar to cells throughout your body. As the sugar is absorbed, your blood sugar levels drop. When blood sugar gets low, your pancreas releases another hormone called glucagon. Glucagon tells the liver to start making use of stored sugars.

When everything is working in sync, blood sugar levels stay within a normal range. When you take in high amounts of carbs, it causes a spike in your blood sugar. That can alter the normal insulin response. Frequent spikes in blood sugar may be a contributing factor in insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

Sugar and Fat

Added sugars have no nutritional value but are high in calories. According to the American Heart Association, most Americans take in twice as much sugar as is recommended for optimal health. All those extra calories add up to extra weight, which is a contributing factor for getting heart disease.

Trans fats are a manufactured fat with no extra nutritional value. They’re considered so unhealthy that some countries have banned their use. Often found in fast food, trans fats are known to raise LDL cholesterol levels. That’s the undesirable kind of cholesterol. They can also lower HDL cholesterol, which is the so-called good cholesterol. Trans fats may also increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Sodium

Too much sodium causes your body to retain water, making you feel bloated and puffy. But that’s the least of the damage overly salted foods can do. Sodium also can contribute to existing high blood pressure or enlarged heart muscle. If you have congestive heart failure, cirrhosis, or kidney disease, too much salt can contribute to a dangerous buildup of fluid. Excess sodium may also increase your risk for kidney stones, kidney disease, and stomach cancer.

High cholesterol and high blood pressure are among the top risk factors for heart disease and stroke.

Respiratory System

Obesity is associated with an increase in respiratory problems. Even without diagnosed medical conditions, obesity may cause episodes of shortness of breath or wheezing with little exertion. Obesity also can play a role in the development of sleep apnea, a condition in which sleep is continually disrupted by shallow breathing and asthma.

A recent study published in the journal Thorax suggests that children who eat fast food at least three times a week are at increased risk of asthma and rhinitis, which involves having a congested, drippy nose.

Central Nervous System

A study published in the journal Public Health Nutrition showed that eating commercial baked goods (doughnuts, croissants, and, yes, even bran muffins) and fast food (pizza, hamburgers, and hot dogs) may be linked to depression. The study determined that people who eat fast food are 51 percent more likely to develop depression than those who eat little to no fast food. It was also found that the more fast food study participants consumed, the more likely they were to develop depression.

A junk food diet could also affect your brain’s synapses and the molecules related to memory and learning, according to a study published in the journal Nature. Animal tests have shown a similar effect. Rats fed a steady diet with over half the calories from fat (similar to a junk food diet) for just a few days had trouble completing a maze they had previously mastered in a 2009 study.

Skin and Bones

Chocolate and greasy foods are often blamed for acne, but they’re not the real culprits. It’s carbs that are to blame. According to the Mayo Clinic, because foods that are high in carbohydrates increase blood sugar levels, they may also trigger acne.

The study in Thorax showed a higher risk of eczema (inflamed, irritated patches of skin) among children with a diet high in fast food.

When you consume foods high in carbs and sugar, bacteria residing in your mouth produce acids. These acids can destroy tooth enamel, a contributing factor in dental cavities. When the enamel of your tooth is lost, it can’t be replaced. Poor oral health has also been linked to other health problems.

Excess sodium may also increase your risk of developing osteoporosis (thin, fragile bones).

Effects on Society

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the definition of obesity is when your body mass index (BMI) is 30.0 or higher. BMI is a calculation of your height and weight. You can calculate your BMI here. There’s also a category referred to as “extreme obesity,” which is defined as a BMI of 40. Across all race groups, one in three Americans is considered obese while one in 20 is considered extremely obese. Those statistics are higher in the black and Latino communities. Approximately 75 percent of people in these groups who are over age 20 are considered obese.

The Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) reports that the number of fast food outlets has doubled since 1970, a period during which the number of obese Americans also doubled. It’s likely that many factors have contributed to the obesity epidemic, but the correlation between the availability of cheap and fattening fast food and national weight increase is stark. Obesity increases the likelihood of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, diabetes, joint problems, and more. In 2008, obesity-related medical costs were estimated at $147 billion. Diabetes alone was estimated to be responsible for $69 billion just in lost productivity. Numbers like these suggest that the costs of cheap fast food are surprisingly high. 

Reference:

http://www.healthline.com/health/fast-food-effects-on-body

http://www.livestrong.com/article/456624-negative-effects-of-junk-food-on-kids/

Business Letter

Definition of Letter

A letter is a written message from one party to another containing information. Letters guarantee the preservation of communication between both parties. They bring friends or relatives closer together, enrich professional relationships and provide a satisfying mean of self-expression. Letters contribute to the protection and conservation of literacy, which is the ability to write and read. Letters have been sent since antiquity and are mentioned in the Iliad  by Homer (lived around 7th or 8th centuries B.C.). Works by both Herodotus and Thucydides, also mention letters.

1.    Application Letter

A letter of application, also known as a cover letter, is a document sent with your resume to provide additional information on your skills and experience.

The letter of application is intended to provide detailed information on why are you are qualified for the job you are applying for. Effective application letters explain the reasons for your interest in the specific organization and identify your most relevant skills or experiences.

Your application letter should let the employer know what position you are applying for, why the employer should select you for an interview, and how you will follow-up.

What to Include in a Letter of Application

When writing an application letter you should include:

Subject (for an email letter)
List the job you are applying for and your name in the Subject Line of your email message, so the employer is clear as to what job you are interested in and who you are.

Greeting
Begin your letter greeting with "Dr./Mr./Ms. Last Name." If you do not know the employer's last name, simply write "Dear Hiring Manager" or leave the greeting off the letter and start with the first paragraph.

Body of Letter

• First Paragraph: Why you are writing - mention the job you are applying for and where you found the listing.
• Middle Paragraph(s): What you have to offer the employer - mention why your skills and experience are a good fit for the job.
• Last Paragraph: Say thank you to the hiring manager for considering you and note how you will follow up.

Signature
End your cover letter with your signature, handwritten, followed by your typed name.

When you submit your resume, you will typically need to write a cover letter as well. Since it is a formal letter, there are set guidelines for what information to include in your cover letter.
The following cover letter format lists the information you need to include in the cover letter you submit with your resume. Since a cover letter is a formal letter, it's important to adhere to these formatting standards.
Use the guideline below to create customized cover letters to send to employers. Then, review cover letter samples, a cover letter template, and tips for formatting hard copy and email cover letters you can use to write your own letters.

Cover Letter Format

Your Contact Information
Name
Address
City, State, Zip Code
Phone Number
Email Address
Date
Employer Contact Information (if you have it)
Name
Title
Company
Address
City, State, Zip Code

Salutation
Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name,

• Cover Letter Greeting Examples: Note: If you do not have a contact name, you can skip the salutation entirely. Or, you can use Dear Hiring Manager, To Whom It May Concern, or one of the other examples listed in the link. Ideally, you will be able to address your cover letter to a specific person. Doing research can help you figure out who is the most appropriate person to receive the letter. Note: If you do not know the gender of your contact, you can write out the person's full name, e.g., "Dear Cory Smith"or "Dear Jordan Parish."

Body of Cover Letter
The body of your cover letter lets the employer know what position you are applying for, why the employer should select you for an interview, and how you will follow-up. Organize the body of your cover letter into the following paragraphs:

• First Paragraph
  The first paragraph of your letter should include information on why you are writing. Mention the position you are applying for and where you found the job listing. Include the name of a mutual contact, if you have one.

• Middle Paragraph(s)
  The next section of your cover letter should describe what you have to offer the employer. Mention specifically how your qualifications match the job you are applying for. Think of this section of the cover letter as where you're making a pitch for your fit as an employee and show makes you a great candidate. Keep in mind that employers will be more interested in what you can do for them, than a list of your background. Make the connection between your qualifications and the job requirements clear. Use this section to interpret your resume—don't repeat from it verbatim.

• Final Paragraph
  Conclude your cover letter by thanking the employer for considering you for the position. Include information on how you will follow-up. Optionally, you can briefly restate why you would be a good fit for the position.

Example of Application Letter

Zsazsa Novia
8 Sue Circle
Smithtown, CA 08067
909-555-5555
zsazsa259@gmail.com

January 13, 2015

George Gilhooley
XYZ Company
87 Delaware Road
Hatfield, CA 08065

Dear Mr. Gilhooley,

I am writing to apply for the programmer position advertised in the Times Union. As requested, I am enclosing a completed job application, my certification, my resume, and three references.

The opportunity presented in this listing is very interesting, and I believe that my strong technical experience and education will make me a very competitive candidate for this position. The key strengths that I possess for success in this position include:

·                     I have successfully designed, developed, and supported live use applications

·                     I strive for continued excellence

·                     I provide exceptional contributions to customer service for all customers

With a BS degree in Computer Programming, I have a full understanding of the full life cycle of a software development project. I also have experience in learning and excelling at new technologies as needed.

Please see my resume for additional information on my experience.

I can be reached anytime via email at john.donaldson@emailexample.com or my cell phone, 909-555-5555.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to speaking with you about this employment opportunity.

Sincerely,

[tanda tangan]

Zsazsa Novia

2.    Inquiry Letter

           Inquiry Letter is a letter written to request information and/or ascertain its authenticity. A letter of inquiry deals with various matters like job vacancies, funding, grants, scholarships, projects, sales, pre-proposals and others. The term is common in various business setups as it implies fund request or pre-proposal information. Owing to this usage, the term may be considered exclusive to these setups alone. But that is not the case, to this effect the below definition offers a justified meaning.

·         Inquiry Letter Definition

       A document requesting information sent on behalf of an individual or an organisation for their own respective purposes, which can be mutually beneficial to the recipient and the sender.

The term ‘Inquiry’ is same as ‘Enquiry’. The former is more commonly used in U.S. and the latter one is more common in U.K. There are some other terms which represent the letters; these are Letter of Intent, Letter of Interest, Query letter, Prospecting Letter, Pre-proposal Letter and Concept Paper. The term ‘Cover Letter’, ‘Business Letter’, ‘Request Letter’ and ‘Sales Letter’ is also applied to an inquiry letter especially when the objective is same as that of letter for inquiry.

       A letter of inquiry serves to facilitate business operations and satisfaction of the sender. Inquiry letters remove any misunderstanding and are time savers, especially when two parties want to reach an understanding. The communication towards this effect resolves the issue without any delay. With relation to it being a ‘Pre-proposal letter’, the inquiry letter is also termed as a ‘Condensed Version of a Proposal’. It is the outcome of the purpose of the letter which highlights the points of a proposal instead of a full-fledged proposal.

       On an individual’s basis, these letters are sent to companies that are willing to hire but haven't advertised job openings. It can also be a letter addressed to editor in-charge of a publication proposing certain literary work. It can be a letter from a student who is vying for a seat in a college or a business that provides an internship. So, the objective of an enquiry letter is same but its projections and audiences are different. Same goes for its method of delivery, it can be sent via paper mail or electronic mail.

Your Street Address
City, State Zip Code
Telephone Number
Email Address
Month, Day, Year
Mr./Ms./Dr. FirstName LastName
Title
Name of Organization
Street or P. O. Box Address
City, State Zip Code
Dear Mr./Ms./Dr. LastName:
Opening paragraph: State what position you are inquiring about; how you learned of the organization or position, and when you will be qualified for the position.
2nd paragraph: Tell why you are interested in the position or type of work the employer does (Simply stating that you are interested does not tell why, and can sound like a form letter). Demonstrate that you know enough about the position by relating your background to the employer or position and mention specific qualifications which make you a good fit for the employer's needs. This is an opportunity to explain in more detail relevant items in your resume. Refer to the fact that your resume is enclosed. Mention other enclosures if such are required to apply for a position.
3rd paragraph: Indicate that you would like the opportunity to talk with the employer to learn more about their opportunities or hiring plans. Restate briefly why you're so passionate about the opportunity you're applying for. State that you would be glad to provide the employer with any additional information needed. Thank the employer for her/his consideration.
Sincerely,
(Your handwritten signature)
Your name typed

Example of  Inquiry Letter

15 January 2011(2)

The Sales Manager,
Melody Modes Ltd.,
Carrham, Upminster UE12.(3)

Your Ref: KPS/C3, Our Ref: Con/13/1(4)

Dear Sir,
Thank you for your letter of 12 January regarding our conference facilities for your sales convention in July this year.(5)
I have pleasure in enclosing our current conference brochure and tariff. You will note that we offer a variety of venues inside the hotel itself, for groups of between 20 and 150 people, with a choice of catering facilities and with or without accommodation. This year we are also able to arrange functions in marquees in the hotel grounds, with a more limited range of catering, but again with or without hotel accommodation.
We have two lecture rooms, with audiovisual equipment – overhead projectors and video and DVD facilities – which might be of interest to you. There are also product display facilities within the hotel.
If you require all or some of your delegates to be accommodated in the hotel, I recommend early booking, as July is one of our peak months. We offer 4-star accommodation, every room with en suite facilities, minibar, television, personal safe, trouser press. We have two restaurants, four bars, a fully equipped gymnasium, and an indoor/outdoor swimming pool.(6)
I look forward to hearing from you further, and I shall be happy to supply any additional information you might require; you will be very welcome to visit the hotel to see for yourself the facilities we offer.(7)

Yours faithfully,

Hector Manning
General Manager(8)

3.    Complaint Letter

             A letter of complaint, or complaint letter, is normally written to deal with a problem situation when other attempts (i.e. phone contacts, e-mails, etc.) have failed to rectify the situation.

The complaint letter formalizes a problem situation by putting it into writing and is usually the last resort to try to get a situation resolved.

Properly written complaint letters can be very powerful and almost always get results, making them worth writing. To read an article on the subject of writing effective complaint letters.

Example of  Complaint Letter

4.Purchase Order Letter

                A letter of order is a document that confirms the details of a purchase of goods or services from one party to another. It usually includes more information about what you are ordering, like quantity, model number, or color, the payment terms, and the matter in which the products are to be shipped. When the recipient receives this letter, they will process the order and send the merchandise.

• Order Letter Definition

       An “Order” is an expense for the person placing the order and an income for the one getting it. But this is not all. The company that bags the order has to fulfill lot of commitments to ensure that it has a satisfied customer, which can be an individual or another company. Timely delivery of the order, quality of delivery and after sale service – are all part and parcel of getting an order.

      An Order Letter is the one that is written by the person/company placing the request of purchase from another company. This letter comes into action only when a detailed study of the desired product has been done in the market and based on promised service, quality and price of the product, a decision for a purchase has been made.

     An Order Letter should be drafted very carefully as it needs to pen down all the terms and conditions of the purchase for the benefit of both involved parties. It should have details such as product specifications, quantities, price agreed upon, delivery date, late delivery clauses, etc. It should be addressed to the person responsible for the execution of the order with a copy to the head of department. Since it is totally an official letter it should be typed.

      A Purchase order letter is written by the company that wishes to place an order of products or services to the receiving company. The letter states the types of goods required with sufficient details for the supplying company to fulfill the order. Terms and conditions may also be included in such a letter.

Example of  Purchase Order Letter

PT. Fashion Tersohor
Cisitu Lama Street
Bandung

January 13, 2016

Subject: Puchase order for 500 pairs of shoes

Dear Sir or Madam

This is with reference to our meeting on January 9, 2016 when we visited your factory in connection with purchase of shoes for our school children.

We are pleased to place an order for 500 pairs of black shoes item number 555 and size 34. We would appreciate if the order is delivered at the address given below latest by January 11, 2016 so that we can start selling it to children before the holiday.

The terms and conditions of the purchase order as follows:
1. Order for 500 pairs of black shoes with item number 555 and size 34.
2. Delivery will be made at the address mentioned below.
3. The order should be delivered latest by September 11, 2014.
4. 100% payment will be made on delivery.
5. If the order is not delivered by the due date, please consider it as cancelled.
6. The price per pair, as mutually agreed, is IDR. 75,000 inclusive of all taxes.

We hope to have a long business relationship with you.

Please feel free to contact the undersigned for any clarifications or discrepancy in the order details.

Best regards,

[tanda tangan]

Zsazsa Novia

Reference:

https://jujubandung.wordpress.com/2009/01/14/contoh-surat-komplain-bahasa-inggris/

https://jujubandung.wordpress.com/2009/01/13/cara-menulis-surat-order-letter-bahasa-inggris/

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/morejobletters/a/jobappletter.htm

Definition , Theory and Examples of Active Voice and Passive Voice

Task of English Business

Definition , Theory and Examples of Active Voice and Passive Voice

Name: Zsazsa Novia Khairunnisa

NPM: 28112026

Class: 4KB01

What is Voice?

“A Grammar of Contemporary English” defines Voice as “voice is a grammatical category which makes it possible to view the action of a sentence in two ways, without change in the facts reported”. One and the same idea can often be expressed in two different ways, by means of an active, and by means of a passive construction.

1. Active Voice

Active voice is used to indicate the grammatical subject of the verb is performing the action or causing the happening denoted by the verb. With the active voice, you learn ‘who’ or ‘what’ is responsible for the action at the beginning of the sentence. In other words, the subject performs the action denoted by the verb. With help of active voice more powerful sentences can be build than passive voice.

Use of active voice:

1. Active voice is used in a clause whose subject expresses the agent of the main verb.
2. Subject can be easily identified by asking ‘who’ or ‘what’ to the verb.
3. Sentences are short and easily understandable.

Example :
John wrote the letter.
    -John (subject) performs the action denoted by the verb (write).

2. Passive Voice

In Passive voice the sentence focus on object i.e. who/what is receiving the action and not on who/what is performing the action. In passive voice, the actor of the of the verb (action) is either understood at the end of the sentence or maybe not told. The passive voice is used in writing facts, truth, lab or technical reports in which the actor is not important or unknown, but the action happening on the object is very important.

Use of passive voice:

1. It is used if it doesn‘t need to know or we don‘t know the actor performing the job.
2. In the end of the clause or sentence “by” is prefixed to know the actor performing the job.
3. It is used if we are more interested in the job than the actors who work.

Example :

The letter was written by John.
    - letter receives the action denoted by the write (verb).

How to identify the active / passive voice?

Ask who/what performed the action(verb)? -- if the ‘who or what is at the beginning of the sentence, the sentence is active voice.

Example :

Jack is eating the apple.

Question will be : Who is eating the apple?   
Look for the word “by”, if present it is passive voice.

Active/Passive voice using Modals:

The modal verbs consist of will, would, can, could, shall, should, may, might, must which are
used with main verbs to express ability, probability, obligation, advice etc.
To convert active voice having modal into passive voice, auxiliary verb “be” is added after modal in sentence.

Rules for Active to Passive conversion
Tense	Active voice	Passive voice
Simple Present Tense	Subject + infinitive(V1) + object E.g.  The grocer sells fresh vegetables.	Object + to be + past participle(v3) + by subject E.g.  Fresh vegetables are sold by the grocer.
Present Continuous Tense	Subject + to be (is, am, are) + V-being + present participle + object E.g.  My boss is giving many assignments.	Object + to be (is, am, are) + being + past participle(V3) + by subject E.g.  Many assignments are being given by my boss.
Present Perfect Tense	Subject + has/have + past participle + object E.g.   I have taken him out.	Object + have/has been + past participle + by subject E.g.  He has been taken out by me.
Simple Past Tense	Subject + past participle + object E.g.  He built a large house.	Object + was/were + past participle + by subject E.g.  A large house was built by him.
Past Continuous Tense	S + was/were + being + past participle + object E.g  She was cooking dinner.	Object + was/were + being + past participle +by object E.g.  Dinner was being cooked by her.
Past Perfect Tense	Subject + had + past participle + object E.g.  She had posted the letter.	Object + had been + past participle + by subject E.g.  The letter had been posted by her.
Simple Future Tense	Subject + will + infinitive + object E.g.  I will give you a present.	Object + will + be + past participle + by subject E.g.  A present will be given to you by me.
Future Perfect Tense	Subject + would + infinitive + object E.g.  The doctor shall have examined ten patients by 10 O’clock.	Object + would + be + past participle + by subject E.g.  Ten patients will have been examined by 10 O’clock by the doctor.

Rules for Pronouns in Active to Passive conversion
Active voice	Passive voice
I	Me
you	You
we	Us
they	Them
it	It

Pronoun number and person table
Person Number	I	II	III
Singular	I -> am	you -> are	he,she,it -> is John,Sara -> is
Plural	we -> are	you -> are	they -> are