Junk food generally refers to foods that provide a lot of calories but little nutritional value. Of course, what is considered junk food depends on who. Some common examples of junk food are soft drinks and snacks, such as chips, crackers, and candy. Popular fast food products, such as hamburgers and French fries, are also often included in the junk food category because they tend to contain a lot of calories but not many nutrients.
Eating junk food on a regular basis can increase the risk of obesity and chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and some types of cancer. This means that junk food is replacing other, more nutritious foods in our diet. See the LiveLighter data infographic on junk food (PDF 306 KB). View the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating brochure (PDF 300 KB).
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All users should consult a qualified healthcare professional to obtain a diagnosis and answer their medical questions. Junk food also tends to be processed, meaning that it typically contains artificial flavors and additives, and is packaged in boxes, cans, or bags. While not everyone agrees on what foods should be considered junk food, the term is generally used to describe foods that are high in calories and low in nutrients. It's important to balance junk food intake with increased exercise to help burn off extra energy.
These seemingly small amounts of garbage can also activate genes that trigger cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer's, obesity, and other common, preventable conditions. It is even widespread in the Third World, where in just one generation, millions of hungry people have gained excess weight thanks to junk food. When you push a shopping cart down the aisle of the grocery store, it's almost certain that if the food is canned, frozen, or wrapped in a package, it's probably junk food. Junk food is so called because it doesn't play a role in healthy eating, especially if you overeat.
Not only are conventional foods available to consumers around the world, but most organic products are also garbage (see “Shopping at Whole Foods”). While it can be difficult to reduce the amount of junk food you eat, you don't necessarily have to give up all your favorite foods. One problem with junk food is that they have a low satiety value, meaning people don't tend to feel as full when they eat it, which can lead to overeating. One of the ways in which junk food companies make their products look healthy, in addition to advertising, is by enriching processed flour.
Even the trendiest bulk foods found in health stores and other retailers, with their modern image of the pure and natural, are also junk food. In addition, the great “whole grain” hoax is advertised everywhere, especially on packages of highly processed cereals, crackers and other types of junk food. But what exactly does that mean? It's obviously not made of garbage, so why do we call it junk food? .
