Removing junk food from diet?

[JeremyW]

What would be the benefits of an already healthy person removing all junk food from their diet?

[Minsc]

It'd reduce sodium / saturated and trans fats / sugar intake, which have their own benefits..

Sodium: I hear it increases blood pressure. Also, your kidneys have to expel excess sodium along with water..

Saturated fat: Don't have a conclusion.

Trans fat: Makes it hard for your cells to breathe, which kills them, I guess...

Sugar: Unused carbs are converted to actual fat. Also, if you have a high blood sugar level constantly, your cells will become resistant to it and insulin, which would give you diabeties. Sugar is digested more rapidly than more complex carbs, so it goes into the bloodstream quickly after you eat it and causes a spike in blood-glucose levels. Complex carbs would get released gradually which would allow the body to use them up before blood-glucose can get high. They still might make you fat though, but not as much as sugars since more would get metabolized. Also, you should feel better without spikes in your blood sugar.


Also, junk food has little vitamins / minerals and usually little EFAs / protein / other good fats. If you get rid of it, you'll increase the nutrient density of your diet..
I'm not sure how exactly it'd help but there are some studies which found benefits in consuming pretty high levels of some nutrients.

[silicon toad2000]

I guess it depends on the other aspects of that already healthy persons diet.
Like I tell my kids, takeaway/junk food is a sometimes food.

The problem with junk food I believe is the oportunity cost, you have an oportunity to have a meal which includes clean vitamins, nutrients, carbs... or you can have junk food which is highly processed and is not as beneficial.

In answer to your question, I think a healthy person who gets the right amount of vitamins, nutrients, drinks plenty of water and has a limited junk food intake would have very little marginal health improvement from replacing their one junk food meal a week/fortnight with a healthier meal.
But if it's more often than that, I think the marginal health benefits would increase exponentially with each junk food meal that is replaced.

[SeriousKidding.com]

I wrote a bumper sticker line once that said:

"What if we only ate healthy foods and took junk-food supplements?"

...for what it's worth...

[Alchemiss]

If you eat a lot of junk food, the benefit might be more long-term. Our bodies tolerate a lot, especially when we are younger, but eventually your body may object to the cumulative effects of what you have been eating.

I subscribe to an "all things in moderation" view, though. I don't think occasional junk food in an overall healthy diet is a big deal.

[bdp]

JeremyW, what is your definition of 'junk food,' and in what quantities do you eat it?

[Keith]

Originally Posted by JeremyW

What would be the benefits of an already healthy person removing all junk food from their diet?

It depends what you replace it with. You avoid a lot of the truly blatant 'gotchas' by cutting out junk food, but you still need a balance of healthy foods. eg. if you were to eat nothing but brown rice you'd still end up malnourished.

Having said that, I would say the #1 benefit is remaining healthy. Regaining your health is a lot harder than maintaining it.

[Liara Covert]

Its interesting to compare what different cultures and ethnic groups consider healthy eating in comparison to body types, georgraphy and climates. Consider where you live and your energy level. We're all brainwashed about what is good for us. How do food you eat enable you to feel?

[RT Wolf]

Originally Posted by JeremyW

What would be the benefits of an already healthy person removing all junk food from their diet?

Try it and find out!

[JeremyW]

Originally Posted by bdp

JeremyW, what is your definition of 'junk food,' and in what quantities do you eat it?

Food of poor nutritional value. Very small.

[bdp]

If you eat a very small amount of junk food and you are extremely healthy, you'll probably see little to no benefit if you stop eating it.

However, in the case of chronic disease or disorder, an extremely strict diet might be required to make a difference.

[PantherFootball]

I think junk food once in a while is ok. Personally, I have a cheat day (Sunday) where I eat anything I want. Then back on the strict diet the following Monday - Saturday.