Pizzas? Burgers? Pani puri? Cakes? Are any of these your favourite foods? Want to know how you can have your favourite food and still stay healthy? This article on junk food will take you through all that you need to know about junk food.
Table of Contents
- If It Is Food, Why Is It Junk?
- Checkpoints to Help You Stay Healthy
- Spreading the Word
- FAQ on Junk Food
If It Is Food, Why Is It Junk?
Food is generally any substance that is meant to provide nutritional support and help one survive. It boosts one’s immune system, strengthen the bones, help different functions of the body, including the digestive system, keep all organs functioning, lower the risk of diseases, support muscles and promote overall growth.
Every human being has different food habits and food preferences. Based on the preferences, they can be categorised mainly into vegetarian and non-vegetarian consumers. A vegetarian diet usually consists of grams, pulses, vegetables, fruits, healthy fat and protein-rich food like legumes, nuts, seeds, etc. On the contrary, a non-vegetarian diet includes all kinds of dairy products, meat, fish, seafood, poultry and eggs. Both vegetarian and non-vegetarian foods provide the necessary nutrients that the human body needs to convert into energy to perform the various functions of the body.
Have you ever wondered why some of the food items we have are called ‘junk food’? Food like cakes, biscuits, processed meat, packaged foods, snacks, sweets, chocolates, carbonated and alcoholic drinks come under the category of junk food as they fail to serve the purpose of having food for nutrition. Junk food includes all food that is high in calories, fat or sugar with very less proteins, minerals or vitamins that are required for the human body.
There are many reasons why all these junk foods seem to be tastier than normal nutritious foods. Human beings tend to have a strong liking for salt, sugar and fat, and this is what is excessively used in junk foods.
Checkpoints to Help You Stay Healthy
Haven’t you ever felt that you could eat what you love and still be healthy? Here are a few ways to keep a check on your health while getting to eat your favourite food at the same time.
- If you are a person who has junk food every day, try cutting down a little and have a balanced diet.
- If you are a person who loves to have carbonated drinks all the time, try to reduce them and substitute them with fresh fruit juices and health drinks.
- Try making your own burgers, pizzas, cakes, etc., as you could be at least a little conscious of the ingredients you add. This will also help you identify the kind of substances that are a part of your favourite food and therefore be mindful of it.
- Keep your weight in check. Take care to work out and burn your calories regularly so that your body does not accumulate unhealthy fat but burn them and keep you healthy instead.
- Try consuming low sugar, low salt and low-fat food and drinks to stay healthy.
Spreading the Word
It is important to understand that health is the most important factor to live a happy life. Having your favourite foods is what everyone wants but see to that you have food that is healthy and nutritious too. Any change starts with an individual’s decision to alter his/her lifestyle choices. The reason it is very difficult to bring change is that not many know of the harmful effects of any of the problems one is facing. The more one eats junk food, the more it eats one’s health away. The health hazards caused by junk foods are more serious than one thinks. The food sure looks tempting and tasty too, but there is nothing healthy or nutritious that could come from junk food. It makes you feel lethargic and lazy. Junk food contains high amounts of carbohydrates which in turn spike your blood sugar levels. It increases the risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular diseases.
Mass-produced packaged foods, which are used to make popular and most loved foods like burgers, pizzas, sandwiches, pasta, aerated drinks, etc., are loaded with ingredients that increase the levels of cholesterol and fat, which in turn results in obesity. Today’s children face problems of obesity even at a very young age when most of their grandparents are still fit and fine. Young women, especially, face hormonal issues leading to Polycystic Ovarian Disease (PCOD) and pregnancy-related problems.
Spreading the word about the various health hazards that emerge as a result of junk food is the need of the hour. Switching to healthy plates with equal quantities of fruits and vegetables on one side and the rest with proteins, pulses, and grains can be an apt alternative.
Frequently Asked Questions on Junk Food
Q1
Why is junk food bad for health?
Junk food is mostly filled with high amounts of fat, salt and sugar, which are more than what the body needs.
Q2
What are some examples of junk food?
Packaged foods like processed meat, biscuits, cakes, aerated drinks, burgers, pizzas, etc., are some examples of junk food.
Q3
What are the disadvantages of junk food?
Junk food accumulates bad cholesterol and fat that increases the risk of developing multiple health hazards like obesity, cardiovascular diseases, heart attack, etc.
FAQs
To write a junk food essay, start with an introduction explaining what junk food is. Then discuss its impact on health, including obesity and related diseases. Conclude with suggestions for a balanced diet.
What is junk food 100 words? ›
Junk food, also known as fast food, is a type of food that is high in calories, sugar, and unhealthy fats. It is often high in salt and preservatives and is considered to be unhealthy. Junk food is typically high in calories and low in nutrients, and it can have a negative impact on our health.
What does junk food do to your body? ›
Such risks include obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and various cardiovascular conditions. This is because most fast food is high in sugar, salt, saturated fat, trans fats, processed ingredients, and calories. It is also generally low in antioxidants, fiber, and many other nutrients.
Why is junk food bad essay? ›
Junk food has been associated with obesity and causing serious health issues in children, along with the development of diseases such as diabetes. Junk food is not suitable for anyone. It is filled with sugar and other unhealthy ingredients that can cause diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
How is junk food harmful to us? ›
Long-term effects of junk foods
type 2 diabetes. heart-related problems (such as cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and cholesterol) overweight and obesity. osteoporosis.
Why should we avoid junk food? ›
Junk foods are often high in saturated and trans fats as well as omega-6 fatty acids, which can cause inflammation in the body. In addition, refined carbohydrates in these foods can lead to unstable blood sugar levels, further exacerbating stress and anxiety.
What is junk food summary? ›
"Junk food" is a term used to describe food that is high in calories from macronutrients such as sugar and fat, and often also high in sodium, making it hyperpalatable, but with insufficient dietary fiber, protein, or micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals.
Why should junk food be banned? ›
Eating junk food on a regular basis can lead to an increased risk of obesity and chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and some cancers.
What is junk food 10 lines? ›
10 Lines Speech on Junk Food
The components of junk food are very harmful and lead to serious illnesses. It is not body-friendly and causes an increase in fat levels of the body, which leads to cholesterol, blood pressure, heart diseases, obesity, and depression. Such foods even though delicious are damaging.
What are 5 negative effects of eating junk food? ›
Junk food contributes to obesity, heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, digestive issues, fatigue, mood swings, dental problems, nutrient deficiencies, and an increased risk of cancer.
The combination of fat and sugar make junk foods addicting and easy to overconsume. Still, completely avoiding them may not be beneficial. Enjoying your favorite treat on occasion is a more healthful and sustainable approach for most people. If you're worried about trigger foods, talk to a healthcare professional.
Why is junk food so addictive? ›
In a way, it's simple - junk food is tasty because of three nutrients: sugar, salt and fat. These are the three main things that influence our 'hedonic hunger. ' Hedonic hunger is the desire to eat when we're not really hungry, basically the idea that 'dessert goes into a separate stomach'.
What is junk food in 100 words? ›
Junk food refers to food items that are high in calories but low in nutritional value. These include chips, soda, sweets, and fast food like burgers and pizzas. Although tasty, consuming them regularly can lead to health issues such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and dental problems.
Why is junk food attractive? ›
Most junk food has a high amount of salt, sugar and trans and saturated fats that foods cause the release of neurotransmitters called dopamine and oxytocin from our brains. These neurotransmitters then transmit the feeling of relaxation, joy and pleasure, that makes us want to come back for more.
How to stop junk food? ›
Here's how to kick the habit.
- Identify your triggers. - Awareness is an important first step. ...
- Replace addictive food with food you like. - Keeping a balanced diet doesn't mean depriving yourself from the food you love.
- Eat right. Your healthy prepared meal will help you avoid unhealthy choices.
- Brainstorm Your Brand Identity. There are more than 2 billion blogs in the blogosphere. ...
- Secure Your Domain. The next step is to secure your domain name. ...
- Host Your Website. ...
- Design and Build Your Blog. ...
- Start Posting. ...
- Promote Your Site. ...
- 9 Best Practices for Successful Food Blogging.
Healthy food does not have merely one but numerous benefits. It helps us in various spheres of life. Healthy food does not only impact our physical health but mental health too. When we intake healthy fruits and vegetables that are full of nutrients, we reduce the chances of diseases.
How do you write a junk food speech? ›
Junk Food is highly unhealthy. They make a person gain unnecessary weight which leads to obesity, sugar and other health problems. After seeing and observing the ill effects of junk food, the government and many organizations are coming forward to make people aware of the harmful impacts of junk food.
