Junk Food – Overview and Reasons to limit its consumption

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Have you ever wondered why the food items that are labelled “UNHEALTHY” by the society,are the ones consumed on a larger scale............

What are the reasons of people buying it.............

What are the reasons of Society labeling it as UNHEALTHY...........?  ?

This article covers them all from scratch......

In today’s time, whenever you go, be it in mall, roadside corner, college canteen, junk food is served everywhere.

Do you know how the name Junk Food came?

  • Junk means something useless or of little value.                             
  • I know, it’s heartbreaking to know the meaning of your favorite food......
                           

Definition:-

  • Any food items that are pre-prepared or packed , which are high in calories , but low in protein, dietary fibers, vitamins or minerals.                                                                           
  • It is also called HFSS (High in Fat, Sugar, Salt).
  • Ex:- Samosa, Doughnuts, Pizza, French Fries etc.

No one can stop eating Junk food altogether, but we can apply the concept of ‘Everything In Moderation’ to limit the consumption of it.

But ........wait.......why to limit.............?  ?

Stay with me, this article will clear all your doubts............

                                 

Why Junk food is not good........?

  • Empty calories – 
As mentioned before, these food items only have calories, mainly in the form of refined sugar or fat, not protein, dietary fibers , vitamins or minerals.

Consuming it every time you’re hungry will result in you getting only energy, not all nutrients that keeps the body healthy. So, you will have only energy, but not stamina. This will leave you chronically fatigued.
  • Digestive Issues – 
Most of the junk foods are deep fried and spicy. 

That will worsen the problem of acidity and will be hard on the lining on the stomach. 

This can lead to GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease) or IBS (Irritable bowel syndrome) in the long run.
  • Craving issues: - 
Junk food contains refined sugar and gets in the blood as soon as it is consumed. 

So, the blood sugar level will spike after eating it and will fall till normal after sometime. 

                               

This will make a person hungry again and will make the cravings even worse.
  • Weight gain: - 
It is observed in the experimental animal studies that consumption of fast food for longer than 3 weeks on a consistent basis will damage the satiety center – the center responsible for stomach fullness effect, of the brain.

That will result in overeating and hence, weight gain.
  • Causes Diabetes in a longer run: - 
As Junk food causes sudden spike in blood glucose right after its consumption, pancreas needs to produce more Insulin to bring back the blood glucose to normal. 

That results in pancreatic strain because it needs to secrete way more Insulin than it regularly produces. 

If a person consumes junk food regularly, his pancreatic cells will eventually burn out. 

So, the insulin will either be produced less or not at all. This is known as Diabetes Type 2.

                                        
  • Increased possibilities of Heart Disease: -  
Junk food causes person to become obese as it has empty calories and will increase the levels of Cholesterol and Triglyceride in the body. 

This will result in Athrosclerosis- deposition of fat in the wall of blood vessels and will result in heart disease.
So, should you completely cut Junk food from your diet from today only.......?    ?

The answer is a big NO.
                                           


Because sugary and fatty junk food is very addictive. Try limiting its consumption slowly.

How to burn the fat that get deposited because of consumption of junk sometimes?

Simple Lifestyle modification :- Intermittent Fasting .

Secret to eat less junk: - 

 leave it on the store shelf.............! Do not bring it home. 

 Trust me, it works.

Lastly,

Do not put yourself on the strict diet that has no place for junk food ,even in parties.

As if you do, you’ll end up binge eating it whenever you take Cheat Day and this will harm you more than consuming little junk sometimes.

Remember: - 

 When you eat junk, do not consume it directly from the packet, take a little portion in the bowl or plate and eat it. So, you’ll know how much you ate.

So,

Everything in moderation is the best approach, when it comes to Junk Food.