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"), or to products with nutritional value but which also have ingredients considered unhealthy when regularly eaten, or to those considered unhealthy to consume at all. The term was coined by Michael Jacobson, director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, in 1972.[1]
Junk foods are typically ready-to-eat convenience foods containing high levels of saturated fats, salt, or sugar, and little or no fruit, vegetables, or dietary fiber; junk foods thus have little or no health benefits. Common junk foods include salted snack foods (chips, crisps), candy, gum, most sweet desserts, fried fast food and carbonated beverages (sodas)[2] as well as alcoholic beverages.[3][4]
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[edit]Marketing
During 2006, in the United Kingdom, following a high profile media campaign by the chef Jamie Oliver and a threat of court action from the National Heart Forum,[5] the UK advertising regulator and competition authority, launched a consultation on advertising of foods to children.[6]The Food Standards Agency was one of many respondents.[7] As a result, a ban on advertising during children's television programmes and programmes aimed at school aged children (5-16) was announced.[8] The ban also includes marketing using celebrities, cartoon characters and health or nutrition claims.
[edit]Health effects
A study by Paul Johnson and Paul Kenny at The Scripps Research Institute suggested that junk food alters brain activity in a manner similar to addictive drugs likecocaine or heroin.[9] After many weeks on a junk food diet, the pleasure centers of rat brains became desensitized, requiring more food for pleasure. After the junk food was taken away and replaced with a healthy diet, the rats starved for two weeks instead of eating nutritious fare.[10] A 2007 British Journal of Nutrition study found that mothers who eat junk food during pregnancy increased the likelihood of unhealthy eating habits in their children.[11]
The increase of junk food is directly associated with the increase in obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, certain cancers, tooth decay, and other diseases.[12] According to some studies, fast food is said to increase the level of insulin in the body. Therefore, a person carries a high risk of type 2 diabetes.
Mothers who eat junk food while pregnant or breast-feeding have children who are prone to obesity throughout life. The children are also more prone to diabetes, raised cholesterol, and high blood fat.[13]
[edit]See also
[edit]References
- ^ O'Neill, Brendon (November 30, 2006). "Is this what you call junk food?". BBC News. Retrieved June 29, 1010.
- ^ Larsen, Joeanne; MS, RD, LD http://www.dietitian.com/junkfood.html
- ^ Cocktails and calories: Beer, wine and liquor calories can really add up
- ^ BBC Health. What is alcohol?
- ^ The Guardian (Felicity Lawrence) Heart campaigners drop case over junk food ad ban 22 June 2006
- ^ Television advertising of food and drink products to children - Options for new restrictions
- ^ Food Standards Agency Board responds to Ofcom consultation
- ^ "Junk food ad crackdown announced". BBC News. 2006-11-17. Retrieved 2006-11-28.
- ^ Johnson, Paul M.; Kenny, Paul J. (2010). "Dopamine D2 receptors in addiction-like reward dysfunction and compulsive eating in obese rats". Nature Neuroscience13: 635. doi:10.1038/nn.2519.
- ^ Goodwin, Jenifer. Junk Food 'Addiction' May Be Real. Business Week. March 29, 2010.
- ^ Craving for junk food 'inherited' Mothers who eat junk food during pregnancy may be condemning their children to crave the same diet, according to animal tests.BBC News. 14 August 2007.
- ^ Currie, Stephen. 2008. Junk Food: Health at Risk. Ann Arbor, MI: Cherry Lake Publisher.
- ^ DeNoon, Daniel J. “Moms Eat Junk Food, Kids Get Fat.” WebMC.com. June 30, 2008. Accessed: September 26, 2009.
[edit]External links
- International Junk and Snack Food Review
- Junk Food, Marketing, and Behavior
- The 10 Worst Foods of 2010
- Junk food facts and its effects
Source : Wikipeda
