Junk food is low in nutrients and high in calories and fat. The products with which it is made are usually not fresh and basically consist of saturated fat, meat and sugar. In addition, to enhance their appearance and flavor and improve their conservation, the food industry introduces preservatives, dyes and other chemical products into these foods. Its production process is usually fast, thus satisfying the immediate needs of contemporary society. However, its consumption along with a sedentary lifestyle can cause health complications.
Tips to make junk food more palatable
Junk food kitchens hold the key to making junk food more palatable and even addictive. The food is usually battered, so its toasted and crunchy appearance makes it very appealing to the eye, especially for children. Likewise, these products are usually cooked with a lot of salt and condiments, and to achieve an appetizing appearance, anti-caking agents, dyes, preservatives and stabilizers are added . All this helps alter the sense of taste and the consumer gets used to eating this type of product.
In addition, some research has found that fatty and sugary foods can be addictive, because biochemical changes occur in the brain similar to those caused by some drugs such as tobacco and cocaine. Many people, when addicted to junk food, are unable to maintain a balanced diet and their health is seriously impaired.
Effects of junk food
In addition to the fact that this type of food is difficult to digest due to the large amount of fat and sugars, fast or processed food can also lead to serious health problems such as obesity. Just by consuming a fast food menu we already eat more than the necessary calories in a day. This causes our body to fatten excessively. In addition, the fats that this type of food contains can cause an increase in cholesterol, thus damaging the arteries and even increasing the risk of heart attack or angina. Likewise, the high amounts of salt with which it is cooked can increase blood pressure.
Depression and Alzheimer’s
But it seems that fast food not only affects the physical health of those who consume it, but also their mental health. Scientists from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canarias and the University of Navarra found that consumers of hamburgers, pizzas, donuts, etc. are at high risk of developing depression. This increase in risk is around 40%. In contrast, a healthy diet, such as the Mediterranean diet, has been linked to a lower risk of depression. A possible explanation for this relationship between junk food and depression is the high presence of trans fats in these types of foods, which have been associated with an increased risk of mental illness.
On the other hand, according to another study, Alzheimer’s disease presents in the brain in the form of protein-rich deposits. Over the last few years, several studies have continued this first study and have reinforced these conclusions to affirm a relationship between diet and dementia. Thus, researchers are analyzing to what extent junk food could help the development of this disease.
