Composition | Junk Food

Junk foods taste good, which is why everyone, especially kids and school-going children, likes them. They ask for junk food every day because their parents have introduced them to this trend since childhood. Unfortunately, their parents haven't discussed the harmful effects of junk food on health. Scientists have conducted research and found that junk food negatively affects health in many ways. Junk food is usually fried and sold in packets in the market. It is high in calories, cholesterol, sodium, sugar, starch, and unhealthy fats, while lacking in healthy nutrients, protein, and dietary fiber.

Processed and junk foods lead to rapid and unhealthy weight gain and have a negative impact on the entire body throughout life. They can cause a person to become excessively overweight, which is known as obesity. Although junk food tastes and looks good, it does not meet the body's healthy calorie requirements. Examples of high-sugar and high-fat junk foods include french fries, fried foods, pizza, burgers, candy, soft drinks, baked goods, ice cream, and cookies. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children who consume junk food are more susceptible to type-2 diabetes, a condition where the body cannot regulate blood sugar levels. The risk of developing this disease increases with obesity or being overweight and can lead to kidney failure.

Regularly eating junk food can result in nutritional deficiencies as it lacks essential nutrients, vitamins, iron, minerals, and dietary fiber. It also increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases due to its high saturated fat, sodium, and bad cholesterol content. A diet high in sodium and bad cholesterol raises blood pressure and strains the heart. People who enjoy junk food are at a higher risk of gaining extra weight and becoming unhealthier. The high carbohydrate content in junk food causes a spike in blood sugar levels, making a person feel more lethargic, sleepy, and less active and alert. Over time, the reflexes and senses of those who consume junk food regularly become dull, leading to a more sedentary lifestyle. Junk food is a leading cause of constipation and other diseases such as diabetes, heart ailments, clogged arteries, heart attacks, strokes, etc., due to its poor nutritional value.