by AmyZ-15, 22 May 2008

Greasy, greasy French fries. Pepperoni pizza that leaves a slick of oil on the napkin. That can of Coke that can be used to polish a penny.

We all know that junk food is bad for you. Junk food is bursting with chemicals and flavorings, trying to create that taste we know and love. There are consequences. We’ve all seen "Super Size Me," and watched Morgan Spurluck eat a Double Quarter Pounder meal and then McBarf all over the pavement. Can you blame him? A large pack of fries alone has 30 grams of fat. That is almost 50 percent of the amount of fat you’re supposed to have in a day. Gross, right?

People are getting diseases like gallstones, fatty liver and asthma due to obesity. In fact, obesity is now the number two cause of death in the United States.

So why do people still eat junk food when they know the health risks? Even I have been a victim of the occasional binge of Ben & Jerry’s. However, it was reading an article about an experiment done that motivated me to have healthier eating habits.

Stephen J. Schoenthaler investigated the link between junk food and human psychology. He conducted an experiment at a jail in Virginia by feeding prisoners there hamburgers, sausages, milk shakes and desserts for a few weeks. Schoenthaler found their behavior to be aggressive; and there was a lot of physical and verbal violence between the prisoners. Then he switched their diet to whole bread, fish and fruit. The results were shocking. Offenders showed an 86 percent decrease in escape and suicide attempts and drug addicts registered a 72 percent decrease in unwanted behavior. So junk food has a direct influence on your mood and behavior.

My humanities class decided to go vegetarian for a few weeks, and along with meat, I’ve also decided to cut down on junk food. I really have to admit it: I’ve felt something change in my personality. It’s like I’ve become lighter, less grumpy and more lively.

If you don’t believe me, try it yourself! Eat a diet of healthy food for a period of time. You’ll be surprised at the results!

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