Have you ever opened a bag of potato chips and the next thing you knew, the bag was empty? Have you ever wondered WHY you can’t stop eating junk food after you start?

If you’ve said ‘yes’ to either of these situations, read on to learn more about junk food cravings and the effects that they can have on your blood sugars.

Why Does Junk Food Taste So Good?🤔

Our bodies are naturally designed to crave sugar and salt, which is why we crave certain foods like chocolate or chips instead of carrots or broccoli. We need sugar and salt on a daily basis, but it is important that we only get minimal amounts in our diet. Junk foods contain high levels of many ingredients such as trans and saturated fats, salt, sugar, and processed carbohydrates. Artificial flavors among these ingredients make junk foods taste good by adding extra sweet or salty flavors.

😓 These added ingredients make it difficult for our brains to tell us when to stop eating. This can lead to inappropriate portion sizes and overindulging in junk foods, which can result in other health issues such as high cholesterol and obesity. The excess amount of ingredients in junk foods, specifically sugar, and salt, can help explain why a couple of potato chips as a snack can turn into handfuls of potato chips later, and then eventually, an empty potato chip bag.

What Does This Mean For Your Diabetes?

Now, you may be wondering, what do all of these extra flavors and ingredients mean for your diabetes? Excess salt, sugar, and fat intake can cause a variety of health conditions including obesity, heart disease, and stroke. For people with diabetes, the consequences of eating large amounts of junk food can be even more dangerous. All of the extra sugar in junk food can raise your blood sugars, which can make them more difficult to control. In addition, if you are trying to lose weight, all of the added calories and the poor nutritional quality of junk food can make it more challenging to lose weight.

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To help you avoid the temptations of junk food, here are a couple of helpful general tips that you can try:
  • When you go to the grocery store, start your shopping trip on the outer edges of the store. This is typically where the majority of the fresh ingredients are located such as produce, meat, and dairy products.
  • Practice moderation! It is easy to indulge in foods that are high in sugar, salt, and fat because they taste good. Try to limit your intake of these foods and use proper portion sizing to avoid eating too much.
Summary Everyone loves to indulge in their sweet or salty tooth every now and then, which is OK. However, it is important to remember that junk foods are designed to meet your cravings and keep you eating more and more.

This is especially important in people with chronic health conditions such as diabetes. By trying to avoid junk food or at least minimizing it in your diet, you can improve your overall health and have more control over your blood sugars.