Junk food is high in calories and unhealthy. The nutritional value it offers is next to nothing and people opt for it because it is easy to make and eat. Despite being labeled as ‘junk’, consuming these food items in a small proportion poses no real threat or causes no immediate health concerns, but too much of anything is bad for your system.
High levels of sugars
Indulging in junk food constantly can have long lasting adverse effects on a person’s health. These food items are high in fat content and have high levels of sugars and salt as well. Everyone knows the dangers of too much fats and sugars. It can lead to disproportionate weight gain. This change in weight can be seen as early as a few weeks of consuming too much of this unhealthy food. The fats will start to accumulate around the stomach area and if the intake is not curtailed, it will spread to the rest of the body. Taking this weight off would be a challenge.
It’s cheaper than regular food
Junk food is also cheaper than organic or regular food. Therefore, it can be consumed in abundance. This is the number one cause of obesity in youth across the globe. Obesity, in turn, can cause a lot of diseases such as diabetes, joint pain, etc. Additionally, junk food has very high salt (sodium) content. This is why its consumption can lead to various heart diseases. If it’s consumed by adults, they may face higher levels of blood pressure. There is an increased risk of fatty liver disease as well. The type of fat present in junk food increases the ‘bad’ cholesterol in the blood stream, which again puts the heart at risk.
Junk food has no vitamins
As these food items have no vitamins, fibers or minerals, consuming them provides no health benefits. After eating junk, people feel more lethargic and bloated, instead of active and energetic. This unhealthy body can lead to an unhealthy mind and cause depression.
Binging
Junk food companies have mastered the art of creating a taste that appeals to the masses. Eating this food stimulates the reward system in the brain and can have the same effects as having a drug addiction. Some people always turn to eating junk when they are low or depressed. It is called ‘comfort eating’ or ‘binging’. This can lead to food addiction, which is an actual mental illness and people may require rehabilitation to overcome consuming excessive junk food.
Junk food is highly processed
Another reason to give up junk food is that it’s highly processed. A recently released study has stated that processed food can lead to various kinds of cancer. Hence, people who consume fast food items such as chicken nuggets or instant noodles for instance on a daily basis are at a higher risk of cancer.
It’s banned from schools
Junk food is being banned in schools so that the younger generation does not have easy access to this unhealthy choice. The taste of the food is always preferred over healthy alternatives by children. When a child chooses to eat less nutritious foods and more of the junk, it can lead to poor nutrition and unhealthy weight gain.