By, Nur Adila Shahira Binti Abd Samad
The majority of university students for the past years love to pamper themselves with sweet indulgences at any time of the day. Most of them used the term ‘self-reward’ to validate their actions. But to what extent should we consider this valid? There should be some kind of specified bar or limit to ensure that we’re not feeding our temporary happiness in exchange for our precious health.
The rapid growth of small vendors or cafe branches that sprout on the universities’ lands across Malaysia is tremendously alarming. From pastries to a range of drinks. Coffee to frappe where each weighs an over-the-scale sugar intake. The easy access to these sugary wonders only increases the possibility of severe diseases like one of them, simply named, diabetes.
High sugar intake is not good for our health, furthermore in such a prime age of youth. There are many cases concerning young adults in Malaysia nowadays that are already inflicted with diabetes, heart diseases and many more due to negligence over their food consumption. And the line doesn’t seem to decrease anytime soon.
The surge of dopamine from the sugar and sweet treat is only temporary. Feeding these types of foods a few times per week is not a good habit. Not only are they deteriorating their health but also creating a hole in their bank account. Whereas it is not wrong to indulge in some sweet treats here and there, the excessive, unrestrained buying and eating of these pure instant sugar give more disadvantages than advantages in the long run.
Following the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) number 3, good health and well-being, we ought to be responsible for our daily food consumption. Starting a healthy lifestyle and balanced diet are one of the foundations for a strong immune system and mind. Moreover, some people tend to forget that the foods they consume not only satiate their guts but also their brains. As a university student who uses their physical health and critical thinking as weapons in a battle called education, the only thing they should be concerned about is their brain’s conditions.
Hence, aside from personal restraint and self-awareness among the students, each university can start being more attentive toward the type of foods promoted toward their students and weigh the future outcome of accepting any vendor or beverage branches into their lands. Encourage more healthy food vendors into the universities like fruit or vegetable stalls and some good full-course meal vendors that not only promote a healthy lifestyle among the students but also ensure that their students are getting real food after hours of gruelling classes and assignments.
It’s better to be safe than sorry. While they can enjoy their fleeting joy in a few waking hours each week, they can’t pull themselves out of sickness in a blink of an eye once diagnosed with one.***
