Since the beginning, there has always been a clash between healthy food and junk food. And when it comes to choosing between healthy food and junk food, junk food always wins the race.
Yes, you intended to eat apple, but later you found your hands on the cheese curls. And this happens all the time…right??
You are an intelligent person; it is not like as if you do not know what is best for your body. So what happens?
We know what the healthy choice for food is, but we often do not really follow through and eat it. Researchers in Netherlands did a research on what kinds of choices people make when it comes to eating junk food vs healthy food.
The research team gathered around 585 office workers in on-the-job cafeterias. Participants were offered four snacks to pick from. Out of the 4 – 2 foods were healthy (a banana and an apple) and the rest 2 were not (a molasses and a candy bar). The participants were asked to choose which one they wanted to eat at a later time. One week later they made the choice from the afore-stated snack group.
Within a week of making the selection the participants were asked to answer a few questions. Here Is what the researchers found.
- 92% of the participants, who intended to eat an unhealthy snack stayed true to it
- 49% of the participants intended to go for ahealthy food and of this group, 275 later switched and started to eat unhealthy snack
Does this mean that the craving for unhealthy- junk food is stronger than healthy food?
Researchers concluded “A considerable gap between healthy and unhealthy snack choice intentions and actual behavior was revealed. Despite the gap, the results suggested that people who intend to make a healthy choice are more relatively to do so as opposed to those who plan to make a unhealthy choice. Since more than 50% of the population seems to have no intention at all of making a healthy choice, identifying tools by which this group can be encouraged to pick a healthful snack is needed.
Junk food diets are on a speedy rise, and so are our waistlines…….. and the hole in our pockets as well. They may be convenient, but junk foods are heath eaters. You are not eating them; they are eating your good health.
The Fight is On!!
Healthy Food vs. Junk Food
Why we love eating Fast food to Healthy Food?
Why we love a donut over an Apple?
They are a delight to our taste buds. Do we feel the same delight in eating a bowl of fruits that we get in a ham burger?
Junk food is much yummier than healthy food. Yummy cheesy sandwich or a bowl of cereals –which one to choose; a war is going on in your confused mind? Yes, like always sandwich won the battle.
Temptation plays a key role when it comes to selecting between junk food and healthy food. The melted dark chocolate dripping out of a hot donut is more alluring than an apple.
Now the question is – Does junk food do any good to us? It may please our taste buds and satisfy our hunger pangs to a certain extent, but what about the fats that it is adding on our waistlines?
 |
 |
Healthy Food and Junk Food
Aside from supplying energy and loads of calories, junk food does not provide you all the vital nutrients. On the contrary, healthy foods like vegetables, whole grains and fresh fruits are rich sources of myriad nutrients. When it is about essential fats, healthy food again scores better. Junk food such as burgers and sandwich, are loaded with unhealthy fats , which is the key reason why a huge number of people today eating junk food items suffer from obesity and associated ailments.
Facts
The statistics are shocking. Over 65% of American adults and 27% of young Canadians aged between 5 and 17 meet the criterion for being obese (or overweight).
It is no secret that one of the eminent factors behind these numbers is the ever-growing presence of junk-food diets among American families. On –the- go parents feel they may save time by buying a burger at the drive-through, while lower-income families deem that super-sized deep-fish pizzas and trios are saving them dollars. While the former may be true, the latter is absolutely false.
Concentration
A healthy and nutrient rich diet will help boost your concentration power. While, junk foods lead to poor concentration. The blood circulation falls because of the substantial accumulation of fats in the inner wall of arteries, a consequence of junk food consumption. As a result you feel dozy and drowsy.
Facts
According to several studies, high-fiber foods release energy steadily, whereas high-sugary foods only provide you with a short-burst of energy. Studies also reveal that good proteins like nuts and lean meat can immensely boost the brain function. Vegetables, whole grains, foods made of whole wheat and fruits all aid in keeping your brain, body and soul healthy.
Eating healthy foods also help with positive thinking and energy levels.
When it is about Healthy food vs. Junk food this fact will clear it all – By eating junk food and consuming loads of sugar you are more apt to feel non-motivated, poorly about yourself and sluggish. On the other hand, by eating healthy food, you are able to focus longer and feel a sense of accomplishment by having good amount of energy though the day.
Stamina and Strength
Eating junk food may provide you the feeling of instant energy; however, most people who eat junk food are ignorant of the fact that their daily consumption results in a deficiency of energy. Conversely, vegetables, lean meat and fruits will not just provide you with nutrients, but will help you build stamina and strength.
Facts
Studies reveal, by eating healthy food, which is low in fat like lean meat along with lots of vegetables and fruits, you will be able to have a healthy body and improved physical stamina.
Many studies conclude that healthy foods like vegetables (carrots and spinach) and fruits ( oranges and apples) help in boosting immune systemand wipe out depression.
Cholesterol
In case, you are habitual of eat junk food, cholesterol levels in your body will always be on the higher side. Junk food items contain much higher level of cholesterol as opposed to its healthy counterparts, this result in accumulation of cholesterol in the inner walls of arteries, causing an inimical affect on the heart and liver.
Facts
Get full of fiber diet. This heart- healthy element can alleviate blood cholesterol and reduce the risk of liver or heart disease. Aim for 25 grams/day
Be berry merry, as studies have shown that people who eat more berries (particularly strawberries and blueberries) cut their chances to get a heart attack by around 30%
Overall Health
People, who eat healthy food items, fall sick less often. However, it not at the same case for those who frequent the fast food drive-through outlets. One of the most prominent health issues pertaining to eating junk food is obesity and unless you live under the rock, you must be familiar that obesity is followed by a series of serious diseases. Healthy food helps with concentration for work and school.
Conclusion
Healthy food makes your brain sharp and makes you stand tall to be strong, whereas junk food just increases your waistlines and make you more prone to diseases. This is why you must eat healthy food in place of junk food. You are what you eat ….. feed yourself a healthy and disease-free future.
Donut – The good I taste, the worse I am
Apple – I am packed with healthy nutrients and I keep the doctor away
Clearly, Healthy food is the winner!
Enjoyed Junk Food vs Healthy Food? Share it with your friends so they too can follow the Superfoodsliving journey.
Share on Pinterest
