|
Junk food is now defined as any food packed with
"empty calories"—an abundance of fat, sugar, sodium, and
chemicals—and little nutritional value. Fast food items, such as
hamburgers, fries, tacos, and fried chicken, are considered junk
food when the amount of fat, calories, sodium, and chemicals
they harbor is disproportionate to their total nutritional
value. Satisfying your appetite with this kind of food may lead
to nutritional deficiencies, high cholesterol levels, and
eventually heart problems. Although many health authorities
insist that there is no such thing as junk food, consumers find
it a useful term for distinguishing nourishing food from
products whose chief appeal is fun, convenience, and addictive
taste ("bet you can't eat just one").
Cash registers across the country ring up an
astounding amount in sales of fast foods and snacks (candy,
sweets, chips, cookies, ice cream, and cakes). Americans spend
about $23.5 billion a year on candy and gum and $4.6 billion on
potato chips. Of the 46 percent of American adults who eat out
on a typical day, one-third choose fast food.
While this national orgy of snacking may pose a
threat to our collective health, junk food is not inherently
"poison" and it's not necessary to completely avoid it to live a
healthy life. Nutritionists have retreated from advising a
complete denial of any food, realizing that the forbidden fruit
can become an obsession. Eating a candy bar once in a while
isn't going to ruin your health, and, depending on your choices,
a meal at a fast food restaurant doesn't have to be a diet
disaster.
In the pages ahead, you'll find some strategies
for navigating the junk food maze, including insights into its
appeal, guidelines on how much you can eat guilt-free, and tips
for staying under that limit through moderation, compensation,
and substitution. Victor Herbert, MD, JD, Professor of Medicine
at Mount Sinai and Bronx Veteran Affairs Medical Centers makes
the case in a nutshell: "All food is health food in moderation,
all food is junk food in excess."
|
