Unhealthy or Junk food is an informal term applied to some foods that are perceived to have little or no nutritional value (i.e. containing "empty calories"); to products with nutritional value, but also have ingredients considered unhealthy when regularly eaten; or to those considered unhealthy to consume at all.
Junk foods are typically ready-to-eat convenience foods containing high levels of saturated and / or trans fats, salt, or sugar, and little or no fruit, vegetables, or dietary fiber; and are considered to have little or no health benefits. Common junk foods include salted snack foods like chips (crisps), candy, gum, most sweet desserts, fried fast food and carbonated beverages (sodas) as well as alcoholic beverages. High-sugar cereals, particularly those targeted at children, such as Fruit candies, are also classified as junk food.
Junk food consumption alters brain activity in a manner similar to addictive drugs. After many weeks on a junk food diet, the pleasure centers of our brains become desensitized, requiring more of the junk food for pleasure.
Junk or unhealthy fast foods have become a part of our busy lifestyle. Fast food restaurants are popular because they serve filling foods that taste good and are not that heavy on pockets. However, the reason for the fast foods being cheap can be subjected to the use of cheaper ingredients such as high fat meat, refined grains, and added sugar and fats, instead of nutritious foods such as lean meats, fresh fruits, and vegetables.
Fast foods are not completely bad but eating too much over a long period of time can lead to several health problems. The constant stress of missing nutrients, food additives, environmental pollutants, and pesticides will eventually take its toll and the end result would be premature aging, disease, and other health problems. Research shows that most modern killer diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer are definitely related to your diet and lifestyle.