When Your Diet is Junk

The fact that we label certain food “junk food” should be enough of a sign that we shouldn’t eat it. Why would anyone want to eat garbage? However, junk food can be very tempting because it is sugary, fatty, decadent, cheap, and easy. What exactly does eating junk food do to you?

First of all, most junk food has little to no nutritional value. So, you are basically eating empty calories, and replacing meals that should be giving you the nutrients you need to be healthy. But junk food is even worse not for what it lacks, but for what it contains. Junk foods tend to be highly processed, with common unhealthy ingredients including large amounts of refined sugars, chemical additives, artificial colors and flavors, preservatives, and hydrogenated oils.

A diet high in junk foods can cause:

• Tiredness and lack of energy. Since it is nutrient poor, junk food does not supply your body with the tools it needs to keep you going for sustained periods of time. Moreover, the high levels of sugar and fats will give you a quick rush of energy, followed by a hard crash. Your energy levels will be out of balance, which can cause mood swings.
  Difficulty focusing. When you come down off your sugar high, you become sleepy and restless, not a good state for concentrating on the task at hand.
• Addictions. As we all know, junk food is addictive and the more you eat it, often the more you crave it.
• Diseases. A diet high in junk food can bring on many different heart diseases including myocardial infarction and high blood pressure. The large amount of cholesterol in most junk foods builds plaque in your arteries, which makes it harder for your heart to pump blood through your body, causing tiredness and increased risk of heart attack.
• Cholesterol is also dangerous for your liver and can cause liver damage. Junk food can cause weight gain, which brings on a whole host of illnesses. It has also been linked to diabetes, certain cancers, and neurological problems.

Of course, it is practically impossible in our modern society to cut out junk foods entirely. They are just too readily available and prevalent. But it is best to eat them in moderation and replace them with healthy foods.

Here are some suggestions:

• When you are craving candy, eat fruit instead. It will satisfy your sweet tooth, but also packs more nutrients and fiber.
• If you are pining for a pastry, try eating natural peanut butter on whole grain bread with slices of banana on top. This treat is rich in healthy fats, vitamins, fiber, and protein.
• When you really want ice cream, go for yogurt (whole fat if you are feeling decadent) with honey or fruit. You will add calcium, vitamins, fiber, and protein.
• If you are a soda addict, try fruit juice spritzers. These tasty drinks use mineral water and fruit juice to create a naturally fizzy, sweet, and refreshing beverage.
• Instead of processed milk chocolate, go for dark chocolate with a high cocoa content, less sugar, and minimal processing. Opt for a bar with almonds for extra protein, fiber, healthy fats, and vitamins.