It is common knowledge that fast food, junk food, or junk food can be very harmful to your health because its content is high in fat, salt, sugar, and cholesterol. They usually generate a momentary satisfaction, responsible for diseases such as obesity. But what other illnesses can junk food cause?
Today we will reply to this and other questions that have to do with eating habits because to keep your body healthy, you not only need physical activity but also to eat nutritious food.
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Table of Contents
What is Junk Food?
This type of food contains many additives that are harmful to health. And is that the additives are not nutritional;.
Junk food is highly processed, and due to its high levels of salts and sugars, it does not require that it be consumed excessively to damage your health. In addition, due to the speed and economy, it is a they are only present to improve the flavor, color, texture, and conservation of food type of food that you can drink at any time.
The most common junk foods are the following :
- Pizza;
- Burgers;
- Hot dogs;
- Potato chips;
- soft drinks;
- Sweets and chocolates;
- Foods cooked with excess oil.
To avoid diseases related to consuming these foods, you must eliminate them from your diet. Comprehensive health goes hand in hand with good nutrition, and in the next section, you will see the difference between healthy food and junk food.
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Healthy Food vs. Junk Food
As we mentioned at the beginning of the article, fast food contains cholesterol, fats, sugars, and salts in large quantities. These are its main ingredients and do not contribute anything healthy to your body. You can suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases by consuming them.
For its part, healthy food is the one that gives you the vitamins, proteins, minerals, carbohydrates, and fibers necessary for good nutrition. From fruits, lean meats, cereals, legumes, and dairy, you get everything you need for the functioning of your body. In short, junk food is not necessary.
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What is a Healthy Diet for Adults?
A healthy diet should include this:
- Fruits, vegetables, peas (such as lentils and beans), nuts, and whole grains (for example, unprocessed corn, oats, wheat, or brown rice).
- At least 400 g (or five servings) of fruits and vegetables daily, except potatoes, sweet potatoes, cassava, and other starchy tubers.
- Less than 10% of total caloric intake from free sugars, which is equivalent to 50 grams (or about 12 level teaspoons) for a person of healthy body weight consuming approximately 2,000 calories per day, although for health benefits Ideally, consumption of less than 5% of total caloric intake would be ideal. Free sugars are all those that manufacturers, cooks, or consumers add to foods or drinks, as well as sugars naturally present in honey, syrups and fruit juices, and concentrates.
- Less than 5 grams (about a teaspoon) a day of salt. Salt should be iodized.
Why Is Junk Food So Popular?
There are several reasons why junk food is so popular, especially among young people. Let’s look at some of these reasons.
· Easy Elaboration
Maybe you prepare it at home or eat it on the go, and junk food is easy to prepare. In addition, it only takes a few minutes to do it, which generates comfort, ideal for those who “do not have time.”
In the hamburgers, the meat is already processed, it is only enough to put in the kitchen for a few minutes, and that’s it. What remains is eating. But what you should know is that the number of preservatives in that food makes a dent in your body.
· Variety and Economy
We cannot deny that a point in favor of this type of food is the variety of flavors and products you can find on the street.
These two aspects are essential to be the most consumed in the younger population.
The Pleasurable Effects
By having a high salt and other additives, junk food increases the concentration of dopamine, which generates the sensation of pleasure in the brain. This makes you need to eat more and more of this type of food.
The Effects on Your Health
The most common effects involve two potentially serious diseases, obesity, and diabetes. In addition, other conditions that are also worrying include heart problems, hypertension, circulation problems, and premature aging.
In some cases, junk food has been linked to cancer. Also, eating fast food causes a nutritional deficit in your body. And is that junk foods have little or no nutritional value.
All the effects caused by these foods can become irreversible if consumed for a long time and in large quantities. If you are a lover of junk food, it is time for you to start thinking about new eating habits.
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