We can’t deny that eating is one of the most favorite things we ought to do. Eating is essential to us, obviously, so we can get the energy we need for our daily activities and, most importantly, for survival. We eat because we are hungry. However, many types of the food today give us the opposite effect. Instead of sustaining our body with essential nutrients, it compromises our health and wellbeing. Like any other things, excess eating is bad, especially when it contains a lot of fat, sugar, or salt, which are all found in junk food. Andrew F. Smith defined junk food as, "those commercial products, including candy, bakery goods, ice cream, salty snacks, and soft drinks, which have little or no nutritional value but do have plenty of calories, salt, and fats” (x). With these arguments, it is best to not choose junk food over healthy food, for it can increase the risk of getting various chronic diseases.
Examples of these chronic diseases caused by junk food are problems in memory and learning ability. Eating junk food regularly for five days straight can deteriorate memory. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2011 conducted a study that showed healthy people who ate only junk food for five straight days had problems in memory that made them performed poorly on cognitive tests that measured attention, speed, and mood. This is because of poor or toxic diet. Diets that are high in sugar and fat can suppress the activity of a brain peptide called BDNF (brain-derived
Junk food refers to cheap food containing high levels of calories from sugar or fat with little fiber, protein, vitamins or minerals. People in the United States consume massive amounts of these unhealthy products everyday that are produced by big industries like Coca-Cola and McDonald’s. Investigative reporter Michael Moss argues that the food giants have hooked people with addictive foods that are harming our health. How do they do this? I strongly agree with Moss’s agreement because the food giants use schemes to advertise and market their unhealthy products to make them appear delectable. Thus, giving the viewer of the advertisement a high urgency to buy and eat the product that would eventually lead them to obesity.
America is known as the fattest country in the world. Is fast food the culprit? According to the article, "F as in Fat 2005," America's obesity rate in 2005 was a whopping 60%. Many people believe that this is due to the increasing popularity in fast food. It is much easier to go through a drive through and pick up a meal than making the food yourself. When eating out, people are more likely to eat more than when they cook. Meals at fast food and restaurants have become popular, in America the size of each meal is significantly bigger than any other country. According to Christina Sarlch, author of “Guess How Many Calories Are In A Typical Fast Food Meal” the amount of calories in a fast food meal is a gouging 1100 calories with a drink .The average number of calories needed for a person is 2000-2500 calories . Split between 3 meals that averages out to 666.67-833.33 calories a meal. Of course not many people follow that suggested calorie intake.
Junk food is one of the main causes of obesity in America.It contains things that have unhealthy ingredients that could lead to illnesses in the future if a person consumes a large amount of junk food.But there are ways to eat junk food and still be healthy while enjoying your favorite junk foods . Over the years there has been a lot of history behind junk food and the effects of it. Some of these historical findings have started leading people to understand that the amount of junk food that they consume is something that is very important for the health.Usually a person who is young that consumes a large amount of junk food may see an increase in obesity cholesterol and high blood pressure. For a person who is older such as in their 30s and 40s they may then see those things as well plus other illnesses that could lead to things such as high blood pressure and heart disease .To avoid an unhealthy lifestyle in the future something that might be questioned. Is it possible to live a healthy lifestyle while still enjoying junk foods?
Most Americans love the low cost, prepackaged, great tasting food that is convenient to buy and prepare. These prepackaged or processed foods are normally made to be faster, cheaper and usually taste great but they are loaded with bizarre, unpronounceable chemicals that, if you saw them in their pre-processed state, you would never consider putting in your mouth. Emulsifiers, preservatives, colorants, stabilizers, artificial sweeteners, texturizers and even bleach can be found in most processed foods. On average, Americans spend 90% of their food budget on these types of foods which is found to contribute to the leading causes of obesity, auto immune disease, diabetes and even cancer.
“Although many health authorities insist that there is no such thing as junk food, consumers find it a useful term for distinguishing nourishing food from products whose chief appeal is fun, convenience, and addictive taste; ‘bet you can't eat just one’ ”(Junk Food). Americans are spending about $4.6 billion a year on potato chips, and 23.5 billion a year on candy and gum. 46 Percent of adult Americans eat out on a typical day, and one third of them choose fast food. That is because the fast food industry has slowly become one of the symbols of American culture and is spreading to other cultures as well: McDonalds has 26,000 locations in 119 countries, Pizza Hut has more than 10,000 in 86 countries, and Subway has 14,500 in 75 countries. Commercials, signs, and huge advertisements are pushing junk food at us every day; people cannot even go to the grocery store without candy bars being lined up right by the checkout. The junk food industry realizes how appealing it can be. When a person is in a rush, they can easily eat a large meal without having to make a lot of decisions, work, dress up, or get out of their car. The speed and convenience fit Americans’ pressured lifestyles. It does not fit, however, to our health and wellness. A fast food meal, such as a Burger King Double Whopper with cheese, contains 965 calories, more than double the amount of fat, and as much as 750 grams too much sodium
“Nutrition experts have researched the bad effects of junk food and come to the conclusion that junk food manufacturing
The nutritional value in food from fast-food places like McDonalds has become a problem for many Americans. Obesity in America is at an all-time high and a change is necessary. Should companies stray away from unhealthy options or should humans be responsible for controlling their unhealthy urges? These two questions tie in with the main debate; "Where does personal responsibility end and corporate responsibility begin?" Chuck Klosterman, from the essay "McDiculous" and David Zinczenko, from the article "Don't Blame the Eater," both share their point of view on the issue.
If one continually eats unhealthy foods, they can quickly become overweight. Moreover, this has become such a recurring problem in America that according to the National Institutes of Health, compulsive eating has led to obesity for approximately 35.7% of Americans. This number represents over one-third of the entire U.S population and will continue to grow unless it is addressed. In addition, it is critical that Americans learn to moderate their junk food intake to prevent the contraction of serious health issues. Sweenie states that, “Food high in salt, sugar, fat or calories and low nutrient content...provide suboptimal nutrition with excessive fat, sugar, or sodium per kcal. Such poor diets can slow growth, promote obesity; sow the seeds of diseases like diabetes, hypertension, cardiac problems, and osteoporosis.” These are exceptionally serious diseases that can often result in a severely hindered lifestyle or even death. In order to avoid these exceptionally undesirable outcomes, one must always remain aware of their daily junk food consumption. In Kirkey’s article, Paul Kenny, an associate professor at the Scripps Research Institute in Florida, states that, "It's incumbent upon people to make sure that they're more respectful and aware of what they're eating. Just be aware that there are dangers and risks associated. Enjoy (high-fat) food, but make sure it's occasionally and
Is junk food the main reason why many people develop diabetes and become overweight? A lot of school’s fail to provide enough nutrition in lunches, many parents can atleast help by packing healthy lunches, instead of their children eating junk food or not even eating at all. Although some people think eating junk food is quick and simple, and can be more affordable when it’s time to go grocery shopping, and it can cost less at school. Junk food should be eliminated at schools and should atleast have a limit outside of school. Junk food can cause many health issues,and can have mind blowing effects on your body. Even though junk food taste great, it’s not good for you.
“More than one in three adults in America is considered obese” (Katz). Having a junk food tax will most definitely help lower this statistic. While characterized as a negative burden, taxes are easily one of the most important aspects in everyday life. Taxing junk foods will allow many positives such as: health benefits, better uses with the money, and knowledge for a healthy lifestyle.
The fast food industry provides quick, cheap, and easy access to foods that in the customers opinion, is very delicious, and affordable, however this food which millions of people around the world are constantly consuming, could actually cause major health problems, and weight gain in the long run. Major fast food companies throughout the world know what they are doing when it comes to marketing towards all types of people. Some people will find numerous different things to blame for the epidemic of fast food making individuals overweight. In recent research on, or discussions of the fast food industry having an effect on people's health, a controversial issue has been raised, and that is the fact that this problem affects not only
Eating fast food or processed foods aren’t good for the body. Not eating enough fruit and vegetables can impact on the body as fruit and vegetables contain the micronutrients the body needs. The body needs nutrients to ensure it has the required fuel to keep itself healthy. Nutrients is a chemical that the body needs to live and grow. Eating out a lot tends to impact people’s health as they pick the unhealthy options as they are tastier than the healthy
The world economy has become fast-paced, and this has forced people to transform their lifestyle in order to adapt to the changing pace. Family structures have evolved drastically with modern mothers having outside careers rather than being housewives. Granted such mothers get out of work worn out with little strength to prepare a proper meal for the family. They often opt for an easier way of preparing a meal for their families. This is the foundation for the thriving of the fast food industry. A number of nations have been transformed to fast food nation with American society being on the lead followed by Britain. American hosts the largest fast food industry in the world with outlets in over 200 foreign nations. With conveniences around
One of the most common diseases linked to the consumption of junk food is Diabetes. Diabetes is a disease that occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or doesn’t produce any insulin at all causing sugars in the blood to build up. There are three known types of diabetes: Type 1, Type 2, and Gestational which occurs during pregnancy. “I knew that I had
The biggest and most common problem with eating too much junk food is obesity. Just over one-third of all adult Americans are considered obese (https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-statistics/Pages/overweight-obesity-statistics.aspx). This means that there are over 100 million people in the United States are not only overweight but have actually reached obesity. The worst part about obesity is not just being overweight and out of shape but it also causes all kinds of health