Junk Food Essay

1026 Words3 Pages

The Effects of Junk Food on the Body and Brain Since industrialization in early America, the food industry has been growing, and with the development of prepackaged foods and fast-food chains, having snacks at your fingertips is a luxury that seems convenient and beneficial… until one considers the effects of junk food on the body and brain. Generally, junk food is characterized as food with high fat and sugar content and minimal nutritional value (Karimi-Shahanjarini et al., 2012). In modern day America, it is common to arrive home from a long day at school or work and grab a conveniently prepackaged snack to quiet your munchies and calm your nerves. Although this seems like a harmless act, eating these snack foods can have negative effects on the body and brain. The intake of …show more content…

Even if junk food does not result in obesity for some people, which is classified as being 20% over the ideal body weight (Castledine, 2004), the regular consumption of junk food can still lead to disconcerting health problems such as the common stomach ache and head ache, which can impede on every day activities. Another short-term effect of eating junk food is the sugar crash, which commonly happens after eating snacks with nearly half their calories coming from sugar adding up to 200 or more calories (Risher, 2010). Eating junk food that is high in sugars and carbohydrates provides a temporary mood and energy boost, caused by a rapid production of insulin, but results in a drop in glucose levels, known as a sugar crash, which many people compare to the feeling of a hangover (Reid, 2014). Both the long-term effects and short-term effects of eating junk food impacts the body in such a way that impedes the performance of everyday activities and

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