People can be segregated to different types based on their dietary habits. The first ones are those who are very strict about their diet and only eat the healthiest and the most beneficial types of food. The second types are the ones that think about what will happen if he or she consumes something unhealthy, but most often than not, they end up putting it inside their body anyway. The third types are probably the unhealthiest ones, who toss food of any kind into their mouths without giving a single thought as to what consequences it may bring. Researches have shown that the first kind of people that live long and healthy lives followed by the second type who, with some exercise can go on to live quite long themselves. The last kind of people are those that grow morbidly obese over time and develop multiple unwanted diseases that shorten their lives by some margin. It is obvious that the last type of people live shortened lives than those compared to the other two types. The third types of people are the biggest consumer of junk food. No matter how much we try to avoid it, it is looming around the corner ready to strike on any slip ups. Even the most disciplined of people may find it tempting to crave in for some sort of junk food. Junk food has been around for a few centuries now and though unhealthy, people have developed a peculiar taste for it. It started off as fast food, something that was and still is very popular at present. Over time, junk food not only meant fast foods anymore. They also started to take the form of packaged or processed food and their popularity is only increasing. It is not just the current generation that has developed a special liking for this. People have been pleased by junk food for generations now. They do get a bad reputation for being quite unhealthy and rightly so. They contain a lot of unnecessary and excess amounts of fats and sugars that are not really needed to sustain the human body. Essentials nutrients like proteins and vitamins are often missing or contain very insignificant amounts. It does not matter if you are the type who eats junk food once or twice a week, all that undesired ingredients do add up deteriorate your heath over time. Over the years junk food has managed to penetrate almost every nook and corner of the world, but not all junk foods are considered unhealthy. For instance, pizza or burgers are two of the most popular foods are usually classified under the junk food category. This is true to some extent but higher quality ingredients like whole wheat and the method of preparations can turn these kinds of food into healthy alternatives. That being said, it is not advised to eat �healthier junk foods� that are prepared with the best of ingredients every day. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2011 showed that healthy people who ate junk food for only 5 days performed poorly on cognitive tests that measured attention, speed, and mood. Many people perceive junk foods as being their comfort foods overlooking the fact that their �comfort food� will bring them more discomfort in the long run. The consumption rates of junk food are constantly rising every year and are a major cause in the ever-growing number of chronic illnesses throughout the world. A lot of people are also drawn towards junk food as it is cheaper, delicious and readily available around us. Too much of anything is not good as people like to say and that could not be truer when it comes to junk food. Here are a few ways as to how junk food can really have an adverse effect on your body. Impact on Mental Health A lot of studies around the world have shown that eating high amounts of junk food on a regular basis has shown have severe impact on the mental well-being of a person. Excess and regular consumption of junk food has shown to increase the chances of depression and anxiety among various other mental diseases. Children and teenagers especially are more prone to these diseases. A lot of their development is hindered if they consume large amounts of junk food in the early stages of life. The brain is also affected when consumption of junk foods are a regular occurrence. The high amount of trans fat present in junk foods replace the healthy fats in the brain resulting in loss of memory and slows down the ability to learn or acquire new skills in children and adults alike. Dementia is another serious illness that you become prone to if you engage in junk food from an early age. Mood swings have also been documented amongst people who heavily engage in junk food. Regular consumers of junk food are twice as much likely to suffer from mental health issues. Energy Levels of Your Body Ever felt so tired and lazy after eating munching down your favorite fast food that you just want to lie down and take a nap? Researches have shown that a diet consisting of junk food on a regular basis drastically impacts the overall energy levels of the body. Unlike regular foods which give you energy to power through the day, junk food leaves you feeling fatigued for long periods of time. Your productivity levels are also dropped meaning anything that you put your mind to will take longer time to complete. This happens due to the high amounts of fats, refined flour, refined sugar and the several allergens that goes into making these products. All of the mentioned ingredients are present in your favorite fast food and are also present in the packet of chips that you may indulge in every now and then. People who do not eat junk food have shown to be more active and energetic than those that regularly eat junk food. Obesity The World Health Organization describes obesity as an abnormal or excessive fat accumulation in the body that can have a negative impact on health. People start becoming obese when there is no balance between the amount of calories consumed and expended. One of the major sources of unnecessarily high amount of calories are junk foods. They are very high in fats and calories with little to no beneficial nutrients that our body can use. Yet we keep going back to junk foods when we get hungry. That is because a lot of artificial chemicals are added in the food to make it more appealing for the taste buds. Many fast foods are heavily loaded with substances like trans fats that disturbs the normal functioning of the brain. Once the brain stops functioning normally, its judgment becomes clouded and our body is unable to curb the cravings. Upon receiving these mixed signals, the brain cannot process how much food you have eaten and how hungry you are which is why you end up putting more and more food inside your body. The fats and sugars from these foods accumulate in your body over time and cause you to gain the extra weight. If the body weight is left unchecked for long periods of time, it can have serious health implications and several other illnesses like heart problems and high cholesterol levels arise because of it. Coupled with the lack of exercise, obesity is likely to shorten your life span. Terminal Illnesses Obesity and mental health issues are not the only life health issues that come along with binging on junk food. Once a lot of junk is stored in the body, the body becomes vulnerable to diseases. Your favorite junk foods may put you at risk to any potential illnesses in the near future. Cancer and diabetes are some of the many threats posed by junk food. While it has not been confirmed that junk foods are the sole cause of many of these diseases, it has been confirmed that poor dietary choices play a significant role in determining the chances of developing some of these diseases. Each time that you consume junk food is equivalent to handing out open invitations to all sorts of diseases and illnesses to a party that is your body. Unlike obesity and the energy levels of the body which are easier to control, terminal illnesses are life threatening. High levels of sodium and fats present also means that you are putting your heart and liver at risk every time you take a bite out of your favorite burger or pizza. A lot of influencers across various social media platforms have been advocating and promoting healthier lifestyles. Given the popularity of these influencers, more people are starting to choose to live healthier and happier. The internet plays a big part in spreading awareness and although people are more conscious about their health at present, the number of problems arising from junk foods are still the same. Curbing junk food is not the only answer to maintain your health but it is a step towards the right direction. Making fruits a regular part of your diet has also shown to help in balancing and regulating the unnecessary calories from junk food. It is not advised to eat junk food on any scale whatsoever but if you must eat it then maintaining a regular exercise routine and a very balanced diet between junk food and healthier food is crucial to ensuring that problems arising out of eating junk food are kept to the bare minimum. There is no guarantee that exercise and balanced diets alone will make up for all the junk food you consume, it does help to regulate all the unwanted nutrients from them. As humans it is only natural for us to crave for certain kinds of foods. Visiting a dietitian or a nutritionist is worth the time as they can help you better understand thoroughly the long terms effects of junk food and help you in maintaining a balanced diet. Every day it seems like major companies are pushing to introduce more and more varieties of junk food into the market with an aim to maximize their profits and nothing else. There are no strict laws present to regulate the harmful effects of junk food. Like it or not, junk food is here to stay for the foreseeable future but it is up to us to make sure that the current and the future generations do not suffer from it as many in the past have.