Doctor Nguyen Huy Hoang, a member of the Vietnam Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Association, has issued a warning regarding the convenient lifestyles of office workers. Many office employees frequently order food via applications and consume meals hastily at their desks instead of cooking at home. This habit forces the body to ingest large amounts of ingredients with unknown origins, directly eroding health. The public's expenditure on convenience is inadvertently creating opportunities for bacteria, fine dust, and heavy metals from street food vendors to enter the body.

An unbalanced diet from outside meals can also pose a serious threat to kidney function. Many young people adopt high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets to lose weight and build muscle. Doctor Hoang explains that when the body consumes protein exceeding 1,6 grams per kilogram of body weight daily, the kidneys must work strenuously to excrete urea, creatinine, and uric acid. Under normal conditions, adults should only consume 0,8-1 gram of protein per kilogram per day.

Tens of different flavored fried items are displayed on a pan after being deep-fried for customers to choose from. Photo: Thanh Nga

In addition to protein, the excessive amount of salt in fast food like french fries and canned goods also pushes kidneys to the brink of decline. A common bowl of pho contains approximately 5 grams of salt, reaching the maximum daily sodium intake recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). The National Institute of Nutrition once reported that Vietnamese people consume double the standard amount of salt, leading to consequences such as hypertension and chronic kidney failure.

Beyond kidney disease, contaminated food can also foster cancer cells. Many food vendors use recycled cooking oil, inexpensive frozen meat, and vegetables with residual chemicals. Manufacturers of processed meats often add nitrates and nitrites for color and preservation; once ingested, these can easily convert into carcinogens. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified red meat and high-temperature grilled dishes as probable carcinogens. Similarly, a study from Singapore demonstrated that foods high in sugar and fat produce methylglyoxal, a compound that inactivates tumor-suppressor genes.

To protect their bodies, health experts advise people to cook at home, increase their intake of green vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Everyone should maintain at least 30 minutes of daily physical activity, quit smoking, limit alcohol consumption, and proactively undergo regular health screenings to detect early signs of internal organ dysfunction.

Thuy An