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Food is an indispensable part of life. With the advancement of the internet, the debate about healthy food vs junk food has caught fire! There is a plethora of eye-catching difference between healthy food and junk food. While greasy, delectable-looking junk food may fulfill your hunger for a hot minute, it’s essential to include healthy food for a healthy life. So, let’s learn more about healthy and unhealthy food, their differences, and some examples of foods.
Advantages, Disadvantages and Healthier Food Choices.
Many of us love greasy and sugary foods and for those used to eating junk food — cheese, deep-fried, sweetness loaded delicacies are an obsession of sorts.
Thanks to globalization, various junk foods belonging to global cuisine have crept into your daily diet plan in the last couple of decades leading to an increase in the rate of childhood obesity and the risk of developing chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases etc.
If you ask, which one is better from the taste point of view, the battle between healthy food and junk food never ends. Mindful eaters might argue that nutritional food items are tastier too but when it comes to choosing between the two, junk foods always win the race.
But why? Well, agree or disagree; cravings are irresistible and unhealthy eating habits are actually a norm. We can kill our mid-day hunger pangs with an apple or a fistful of nuts, but most of us end nibbling upon a pile of French fries or pizza and even guzzle down fizzy drinks. It in fact, has become a mammoth task for these days parents in convincing their children to pick fresh veggies, fruits, nuts, salads, soups over these unhealthy and calorie loaded recipes.
What Is Junk Food?
Junk food is the best example of an unbalanced diet categorized by a huge proportion of simple carbs, refined sugar, salt, saturated fat and with very low nutritional value. These foods are processed to a great extent where they almost lose all of their vital nutrients, fiber and water content. Junk food may be quite convenient, readily available on the go, cheap whereas healthy food is best for maintaining weight, getting an adequate amount of essential nutrients and for keeping you in good state of health.
Junk Vs Healthy Food.
Healthy food refers to a whole lot of fresh and natural products such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and good fats that deliver your body with essential nutrients for carrying out several bodily processes, combat sickness and keep diseases at bay. Some of the healthy foods include apples, greens, carrots, oatmeal, whole grain, beans and legumes, fish, eggs, avocado, milk and milk products and olive oil to mention a few.
While, junk food is a highly processed food that is made up of ‘empty’ calories foods loaded with full of saturated fat, sugar and devoid of nutrients which neither helps the body to nurture, focus and perform vital functions all through the day. It includes packaged food products like chips, cookies, cakes, pastry, candy soda, ice-cream and a list of fast food items on the restaurant menus like pizza, pasta, burgers and French fries.
How to differentiate what is healthy and unhealthy?
Who doesn’t love to eat tasty food every day? But while enjoying the tasty food, people forget the quality of their meals. Different foods contain various types of healthy and unhealthy fats, so you need to choose the food options that are good for your body.
When ordering food in a restaurant, most people think about the taste of their meal and not the actual nutritional value of the food coming their way. You should be aware of healthy and unhealthy food choices.
But still, if you give preference to the taste and neglect the nutritional value, you’re asking for trouble or a health risk. This is because unhealthy food options like junk food may be too delicious but it contains bad fats that will adversely affect your overall health in the long run.
Before finding out the reason why some foods are considered healthy and others unhealthy, let’s find out what is healthy food and unhealthy food.
The main difference between healthy food and junk food is the nutritional value they provide. Healthy foods are nutrient-dense and provide the body with essential vitamins and minerals, while junk foods are typically high in calories and low in nutrients.
– Another difference is the impact they have on overall health. Healthy foods aid in reducing the risk of chronic diseases and promoting good health, while junk foods can increase the risk of chronic diseases and lead to poor health.
List of healthy food:
Whole grains, fruits, lean protein, and vegetables.
List of junk food:
Snacks, sugary drinks, fast food, processed food.
Conclusion:
Junk foods are highly processed foods loaded with calories, sugar and fat, however, it is devoid of essential nutrients like fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. It is believed to be a key factor in the obesity epidemic and a driving force in the development of chronic diseases. Moderation is the key mantra when it comes to food. The combination of fat and sugar make junk foods more addicting and easy to overdo. Relishing your favourite treat on occasional basis is a more realistic, healthful and sustainable approach for your health.
