They occupy the most accessible areas in the supermarket. They come in attractive and colorful packages. They even appear in advertisements on TV --- pretending to be nutritious as well as delicious. They are the foods in disguise, more commonly known as JUNK FOODS.

      Have you ever stopped to think just how expensive junk foods are? They actually cost more than natural or unprocessed foods. Junk foods appear to be very popular because of good advertisement. The companies that make them claim that they contains vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. The truth is that these junk foods are so refined and well-processed that most of the nutrients they originally contained have been lost during the processing. What remains are plian calories which have few nutritional benefits. These are the so-called "empty calories" that can make you fat.

      Health experts say that junk foods are bad for your health. And they are right. Here are some of the reasons why:

1. JUNK FOODS DESTROY YOUR APPETITE.

      Junk foods fill up stomach space such that when it is time for your regular meals, you are too full to eat much. You pass up the chance to eat the nutritious meals that your body needs.

 2.  JUNK FOODS CONTAIN MANY ADDITIVES AND PRESERVATIVES.

      These additives consist of artificial flavoring and coloring. They are added to junk foods to make them look delicious and taste good so many people will buy them. Eating too much of them can cause headaches.

 3. JUNK FOODS MAY SEEM NUTRITIOUS BUT THEY REALLY CONTAIN ONLY EMPTY CALORIES.

      They have little or no nutritional value. They do not help your body grow and be healthy. Simply put, your body can do without them.

      Pass up on those junk foods and stay healthy!