Difference between Junk Food and Healthy Food - Essay Example

The prevalence of obesity in the US and other countries can be attributed to the unhealthy eating habits of the generation today. People today are faced with two options, eat healthily or eat junk.

The choice to eat healthily or junk starts from having to know what exactly is healthy food and what is junk food. Health and nutrition experts say that junk food is bad and healthy food is good. For non-nutritionists, junk foods are chips, processed foods, hamburgers, pizzas, French fries, doughnuts, sodas, and candies (Unp. me). These are food that is very high in calories and loaded with unwanted fat (Unp. me). On the other hand, healthy foods are fruits, vegetables, and lean meat (Unp. me). So, how does one know the difference? The major difference between junk food and healthy food is the nutrient content.

Junk food is referred to as “foods of minimal nutritional value” because they go through several processes, with high sugar, sodium, and artificial additives content. Because of too much processing, which includes excessive heat and exposure to air, the food nutrients are lost. There are approximately 4000 artificial additives that may be found in different types of junk food. Additives may be artificial sweeteners and colors, preservatives, and chemically-altered fake fats. Some of these additives have side effects while others are not yet fully tested.

Unlike healthy food, junk food does not help build one’s stamina. Junk food may give one the feeling of instant energy but in reality, an overdose of junk food results in a deficiency in energy (Unp. me). Eating junk food is disadvantageous to an individual because it leads to poor concentration unlike healthy food, which sharpens one’s concentration skills (Unp. me).
A high cholesterol level is a result of consuming too much junk food. On the contrary, healthy food helps maintain the blood cholesterol level (Unp. me).
Compared to healthy food, junk food is usually cheaper than healthy food. The reason behind this is that junk food is mass-produced, has a lot of preservatives & can be stored for a longer period. Furthermore, the ingredients used in junk food may come from low-quality food sources which are cheap.

Healthy food is nutrient-rich and helps in preventing diseases. It should have a high fiber content, minimal added sugars, zero or low in saturated and trans fat, and low in sodium. Pasta or bread, to be considered healthy should be composed of whole grain instead of refined wheat flour. When it comes to sugar in food, sugar in fresh fruit is always a better alternative than refined sugar or artificial sweeteners. Healthy food should be low in sodium; thus, eating canned or packaged food such as deli meats, soups, hotdogs, and chips is equivalent to eating junk food. With regards to fat, healthy food should contain monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fats that one can get from nuts, seeds, and some fruits such as avocado.

One category of healthy foods is organic food. Organic fruits and vegetables are those that did not use synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers, and did not originate from other genetically modified seeds. These types of food are considered healthy food because fewer chemicals go into them; thus, fewer chemicals will also be absorbed by the body. Organic foods are therefore regarded as better options than conventionally-grown food because it is deemed to be healthier. Organic foods are cultivated in soil that is rich in minerals and with fewer pathogens. With regards to vitamins and oxidants, organic food might have the same value as conventionally-grown plants because the level of nutrients depends on the plant’s genetic strain and the harvesting methods they are subjected to.

A helpful and easy way of determining whether a food is healthy or junk is when it is nearest to its original form with its nutrients still intact and without any toxins. This means that processed foods, with all the chemicals laden on them, are a big no-no and so are those offerings from fast foods that are often fried in deep fat and smothered with salt to improve their taste.

Knowing the difference between healthy food and junk food is a step towards living healthily. Each one has a choice. Is it going to be an apple or a footlong hotdog? The choice is yours! Read More