Junk Food And Your Health

Written by Prince Anane

Junk food is food that contains high levels of fats, salt or sugar, and lacks nutrients such as fibre, vitamins and minerals.

Reading nutritional information labels and following the Health Star Ratings system can help you make healthy food choices.

Understanding the nutritional value of the food you eat and being aware of advertising 'tricks' can also help you reduce your junk food intake.

Eating junk food, and having sweet drinks, can lead to short- and long-term health complications, including weight gain, diabetes and heart problems.

Junk foods are foods that lack nutrients, vitamins and minerals, and are high in kilojoules (energy), salts, sugars, or fats. Junk food is also known as 'discretionary food' or 'optional food' because it doesn't play a role in healthy eating, especially if you eat too much of it. 

Some examples of junk food include:

-cakes and biscuits

-fast foods (such as hot chips, burgers and pizzas)

-chocolate and sweets

processed meat (such as bacon)

-snacks (such as chips)

-sugary drinks (such as sports, energy and soft drinks)

-alcoholic drinks

Effect of Junk Foods

-Increased stress levels

-fatigue and decreased energy levels

-Difficulty sleeping

-Concentration difficulties

-Feeling down

-Tooth decay

-Type 2 diabetes

-Heart-related problems (such as cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and cholesterol)

-Overweight and obesity

-Osteoporosis

-Certain cancers

-Depression

-Eating disorders

These complications are all associated with a diet high in sugar, salt, trans- and saturated fats and with a lack of essential nutrients like fibre, vitamins and minerals.