Junk food vs Healthy Food

What is junk food?

Junk food is an informal term applied to some foods that are perceived to have little or no nutritional value (containing empty calories) or to 

products with nutritional value but which also have ingredients considered unhealthy when regularly eaten

Or

Those considered unhealthy to consume at all.

The term was coined by Michael Jacobson director of the Centre of Science in Public Interest in 1972.

We use terms FAST FOOD, JUNK FOOD, STREET FOOD interchangeably.These overlap each other in many ways yet are different 

FAST FOOD

✓ Term given to food that is prepared and served very quickly

STREET FOOD:

Obtained from a cart ,truck parked on a street, temporary stands at market places / fairs 

Made from local ingredients 

Like mommos , chats , Samosas etc

✓Effect of junk food on Health:

1) Lack of energy and Fatigue :

This is known as a short term adverse effect resulting from eating junk foods .

As it doesn't provide you with essential nutrients, even though they can be very much sufficing , you feel weakned 

2) Lack of Concentration:

These are traced to affect in immediate and medium term periods . Over due course of time , blood circulation drops due to fat accumulation 

3) Heart problems:

Junk food is a major cause of heart diseases 

•Mycocardial infarction

•Hypertension

•Atherosclerosis

4) High Cholesterol level:

Apart from forming plaques and constricting arteries , cholesterol also affects liver where it is metabolized .High cholesterol from junk food and diet strains liver damaging it eventually.This is a long term effect.

5) Obesity:

• Occurs as more fat , carbohydrate, processed sugar and less fiber is consumed 

• 187 extra calories per day leading to 6 pounds additional weight gain in wt./ yesr

• Increase risk of other diseases 

6) Diabetes:

• Increase insulin levels 

• increaseing incidence in teenagers 

✓Nutrient Deficiencies:

• Vitamin deficiency

• Anaemia 

• Osteoporosis 

•Depression:

• Harmonal changes at puberty make teengers susceptible to mood swings and behavioral changes 

• 58% increase in risk of depression

✓Gastrointestinal Effects:

•Nausea , vomiting

• Diarrhoea, Constipation , bloating of stomach 

• Lack of appetite, stomach ache 

• Peptic ulcers 

How to reduce junk food intake :

• Act as a healthy example. Do not eat in front of children, let them see you eat healthy and balanced meals made at home 

• Explain that eating junk food is unhealthy and will pose problem to their health

• Eliminate packaged and processed snack food from kitchen and do not purchase . Stock it with healthy snacks like dried apricots , dates , resins. Keep homemade lemonnade , fresh juice , pured fruits .

✍️Agricos 

Vaishnavi Nimkar 🌾🌱