Foundations of Nutrition: Junk food

Question 1

Junk Food

Answer 1

Junk foods are chemically-altered food substances that provide no nutrients and are, therefore, not able to maintain health and growth. They are:
* Highly processed and generally contain GM ingredients, artificial colouring, sweeteners, pesticides and other chemical additives
* Hi in calories, sugar, salt, refined carbohydrates and trans-fats.
* Low in fibre and nutrients
* Designed to make one over eat because of the unique combination of chemicals they contain which increase desire to eat. Often much cheaper which is what mainly justifies their consumption

Question 2

Cellular poison

Answer 2

Cellular poison, detrimental to health and well being
* Hinders the electrical flow between cells
* Doesn’t nourish cells or tissues
* Rob’s the body of essential nutrients
* Destroys cells and impairs body functions
* Reduces life expectancy and performance (athletic, cognitive, sexual)
* Absorbs energy from the body
* Accelerates ageing
* Addictive – leads to overeating, malnutrition, disease, early death

Question 3

Diseases

Answer 3

Implicated in a wide range of diseases and disruption of physiological processes/pathways, including:
* Atopic conditions– asthma, eczema
* Hormonal disturbances– Type II diabetes, PCOS, PMS, infertility, menopause
* Skeletal disorders– osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis
* Cardiovascular disease– atherosclerosis (creating endothelial damage) = strokes, angina, etc.
* Neurological diseases– migraines, Parkinson, Alzheimer’s
* Contribution to cancer pathogenesis (carcinogenicity)