“Junk food” refers to processed foods that have little nutritional value. These foods are tasty and inexpensive, but research suggests eating junk food regularly can lead to food addiction, obesity, and overeating. This article discusses 10 of the unhealthiest junk foods in America.
Worst Junk Foods in America
The unhealthiest junk foods you can eat in America include the following:
Pop Tarts
Pop Tarts contain highly processed ingredients, including refined flour and soybean. Additionally, they are loaded with three types of sugar, i.e., corn syrup, refined white sugar, and high fructose corn syrup. Large amounts of fructose can lead to an increased risk of diabetes.
Popeyes Chicken Tenders
In addition to being deep-fried food, chicken tenders contain partially hydrogenated oils, also known as trans fats. Trans fats have been implicated in heart disease, obesity, and inflammation.
Cinnabon Caramel Pecanbon
The Caramel Pecanbon contains 1,080 calories, 51 grams of fat, and 146 grams of carbs. Additionally, 75 of those 146 grams of carbs come from added sugars. This is double the amount of added sugars the American Heart Association recommends.
Burger King Oreo Shake
The Oreo Milkshake from Burger King contains 730 calories and 121 grams of carbs, 100 from sugar alone. At least half of this sugar is fructose, which is known to contribute to heart disease and obesity.
Corn Dogs
Corn dogs’ calorie and macronutrient values are not a concern, as a single corndog contains 330 calories, 34 grams of carbs, and 10 grams of protein. However, corn dogs contain processed meat linked to an increased risk of heart disease and colon cancer.
Dunkin’ Donuts Glazed Jelly Stick
The first three ingredients in the Dunkin’ Donuts Glazed Jelly Stick are refined wheat flour, soybean oil, and sugar. Regular consumption of refined grains has been connected to insulin resistance and inflammation.
Sugar-Sweetened Soda
According to one study, overweight adults who consumed 25% of calories as fructose-sweetened beverages on a weight-maintenance diet experienced reduced insulin sensitivity.
McDonald’s Triple Thick Milkshake
A large Triple Thick Milkshake contains 1,100 calories, 193 grams of carbs, and 135 sugar. This is three to four times the recommended daily sugar consumption amount.
Cold Stone Mud Pie Mojo
The Mud Pie Mojo consists of Oreo cookies, coffee ice cream, almonds, peanut butter, and chocolate fudge. This increases the number of calories, sugar, and fat products it contains.
KFC Famous Bowl
The KFC Famous Bowl contains deep-fried chicken, corn, gravy, mashed potatoes, and cheese. As a result of its deep frying preparation method, it is seen as an unhealthy meal choice.
Conclusion
Certain junk foods are high in calories, refined carbs, and processed oils, which make them unsafe to eat. If you occasionally consume junk food, you should avoid these meals that can harm your health.
