A Plate of hot French fries and a huge burger with hot cheese oozing out of it, with a carbonated drink; looks like a treat! This calorie-rich junk food does look mouth-watering but is known to be nutritionally poor. Junk food or fast food has become an increasingly popular food choice. Ideally, junk foods are defined as processed foods with negligible nutrient value and are often high in salt, sugar and fat. But we often confuse fast foods with junk foods. How are they different? Or what is junk food really?

Junk foods are processed foods consisting of high colories, but that is considered only as a broad umbrella. These foods are prepared in a way that they look appealing and are enjoyable so you are chemically programmed to ask for more. According to Dr. Sunali Sharma, a dietician and nutritionist, "Commercial products including salted snack foods, chewing gum, candy, sugary desserts, fried fast food and sweetened carbonated beverages that have little or no nutritional value but are high in calories, salt and fats may be considered junk foods. Though not all fast foods are junk foods, a great number of them are. For instance, a salad may be fast food, but is definitely not junk food. Some foods like burgers, pizzas and tacos may alternate between junk and healthy categories depending on the ingredients, calories and process of manufacturing."

Fragment consumption of junk food increases the intake of excess fat, simple carbohydrates and processed sugar which may lead to a higher risk of obesity and cardiovascular diseases among other chronic health problems. The resulting obesity may begin clogging up the arteries and lay the basis of an impending heart attack. It has also been suggested that eating junk food affects the brain in the same way as consuming addictive drugs. An addiction to junk food may even result in the rejection of healthier food options like fruits, vegetables, salads etc, leading to further lack of nourishment.

A. Choose the correct answer from the following alternatives.