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Abstract

The present food system provides a varied range of choices to consume foodstuffs. [1] Unplanned urbanization and rapid changes in diets and lifestyles that have occurred in the name of development and industrialization have further increased over the past decade. This is having a substantial influence on the health and nutritional status of residents, particularly in developing countries and in countries in transition. [2] The shift from traditional to the western dietary pattern has become the leading cause of the growing burden of noncommunicable or lifestyle-related diseases and in the year 2015, the Global Burden of Disease study identified unhealthy diet as the leading cause of early mortality worldwide. [3] The method of food preparation, dietary items, and eating pattern has significantly changed from the past. Along with that the availability of food and drink products across the nations and its use irrespective of cultural and environmental differences are some of the factors influencing the health and disease pattern globally. There are several health conditions that can be caused or aggravated by such a shift from the traditional diet. Conditions such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart ailments, gout, and even cancer are directly linked with an individual's diet. Even with the availability of scientific evidence and knowledge of the people about the harmful effect of this modern dietary behavior the fast-food industries are keep on growing. The ready availability, taste, low cost, and marketing strategies make them popular with children and adolescents. [4] The use of nonstick cookware, aluminum vessels, and microwave in home cooking and consumption of genetically modified food products have further made the condition even worse. The present review is highlighting all these factors systematically with the support of scientific evidence.Global food consumption patterns have changed over time. Our eating regimens consistently are altogether different from what our parents or grandparents consumed. The food people consume, in the entirety of their social assortment, define to a large extent people's well-being, growth, and development. Traditional, generally plant-based diets have been gradually replaced by high-fat, energy-dense diets with a significant amount of animal-based foods. There are several health conditions that can be caused or aggravated by such a shift from the traditional dietary practices. This is identified as one of the chief factors contributing to the increasing prevalence of noncommunicable diseases. Conditions such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart ailments, gout, and even cancer are directly linked with an individual's diet. The present review is intended to explore the health hazards of unhealthy food practices prevalent today by providing scientific reasons. Our food practices are the chief factors for the preservation and promotion of good health throughout the life course and it may also determine whether or not a person is going to suffer from the di...