What is the definition and history of junk food?
Food was produced in the United States during the industrial age using ingredients harvested according to region and season. As a result, they could eat healthier food rather than junk food. Flour became a common food ingredient with the development of milling technology in the 1820s, and foods such as cookies and bread were made with it. Then, during the American Civil War, there were many hungry people, so cheap, convenient fast food was provided. Over time, people became more interested in the first junk food, sweet and stimulating crackers, and as these junk foods became more diverse, sodas such as Coca-Cola were created (Roos, 2015). In other words, junk food, like fast food, is high in fat, high in calories, and deficient in essential nutrients that our bodies require. To pique people’s interest in this food devoid of essential nutrients, it was marketed as a long-lasting, inexpensive, and simple food, and the term “junk food” was coined as a result (McMahon, 2023).
Why do people like junk food?
People know that junk food is high in calories, so if we eat a lot, we gain weight, which is bad for us. However, ordinary people want stimulating flavors such as salty, sweet, sour, and spicy. We experience taste and pleasure when we consume foods high in sugar, salt, and fat. The main advantage of junk food is that it is inexpensive, so we can easily obtain it. Also, as people get busy these days, they choose junk food that is convenient and quickly cooked to reduce their time to eat (Lehman, 2014).
How does eating junk food affect our bodies?
Junk food contains a lot of fat and sugar, so it’s high in calories. As a result, if we consume this food frequently, we are more likely to become obese. Respiratory diseases can cause weight gain by interfering with the operation of the heart and lungs. Furthermore, this food is primarily composed of high-carbohydrate foods. So, if we continue to eat this food, we will have blood sugar issues, which will lead to diabetes because insulin will not function properly. Pregnant women should avoid eating too many processed foods because they contain a lot of chemicals that can harm the fetus’s health (Jones, 2022).
What foods should we eat other than junk food to be healthy?
Humans get the nutrients they need from food and generate energy. Our top five nutrients are carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, and water. Carbohydrates give us the power to generate energy, so we should eat foods like oatmeal, corn, and rice. Proteins help repair or produce damaged cells, so we should eat foods cooked with ingredients such as meat, beans, and eggs. Fat is needed to generate energy. If we eat foods that are too fatty, we should eat an appropriate amount because they can make us gain weight, and we should eat vegetable oils such as olive oil and nuts. Vitamins help our bodies grow and develop so that they can function normally. We have to eat fruits and vegetables to get vitamins. Water makes up more than 70% of our body, and it is the most important thing. Therefore, we should drink water frequently because water shortages can have a bad effect on our bodies (Shimmer Bowers, 2014). In other words, we can be healthy if we eat food made of these ingredients.
Conclusion
Junk food is high in calories because of its fat content, but it is low in essential nutrients. People, on the other hand, eat a lot of junk food because it tastes good and is inexpensive and convenient. However, if we eat a lot of this food, we must eat the right amount because it can cause diseases such as weight gain or blood sugar problems. We must also maintain a healthy lifestyle while consuming our five essential nutrients.
References
Jones, J. (2022). Fast Food’s Effects on 8 Areas of the Body. [online] Healthline. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/fast-food-effects-on-body#mental-health [Accessed 1 February 2023].
Lehman, S. (2014). What Makes Junk Food So Tempting. [online] Verywell Fit. Available at: https://www.verywellfit.com/why-you-eat-junk-food-2507661 [Accessed 1 February 2023].
McMahon, M. (2023). What is Junk Food? (with pictures). [online] Delighted Cooking. Available at: https://www.delightedcooking.com/what-is-junk-food.htm [Accessed 1 February 2023].
Roos, D. (2015). How Junk Food Works. [online] HowStuffWorks. Available at: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/junk-food.htm [Accessed 1 February 2023].
Shimer Bowers, E. (2014). 5 Essential Nutrients to Maximize Your Health. [online] EverydayHealth.com. Available at: https://www.everydayhealth.com/hs/guide-to-essential-nutrients/simple-guide-to-good-nutrition/ [Accessed 1 February 2023].
