by Myriam Gabriel-Pollock

Unless you've been living in the wilderness for the past several decades, you're probably intimately familiar with junk foods. They're generally characterized as processed foods that contain high levels of added simple sugars, tend to be high in fat, and lack the vitamins and minerals found naturally in complex carbohydrates. Nutritionists say that junk foods provide only empty calories, meaning they are loaded with calories from sugars and fats but lack the essential nutrients our bodies need. Still, who doesn’t want a doughnut or some French fries now and then? Learn some fun, interesting, and sobering facts about some of our favorite junk foods.