Why Does Junk Food Taste SO GOOD? | Earth Science

Why do the very worst junk foods taste so very good? Why don't we love carrots as much as we love candy? Earth Science explains the science of tasty junk food.

Here at BBC Earth Science we answer all your curious questions about science in the world around you. If there’s a question you have that we haven’t yet answered or an experiment you’d like us to try let us know in the comments on any of our videos and it could be answered by one of our Earth Science experts.

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[DarthSmirnoff]

Junk food tastes so good because it fills the void left in my heart from my father not loving me.

[Michele-nzoz]

I think habituation is the key Word. My parents never brought me to mcdonals or kfc when i was a child. I grew up with a mother that always cooked pasta, sometimes meat and a lot of vegetables, and now that I am 19 I actually dislike going to fast foods more than once in 2 months. I know once in 2 weeks doesn't do anything bad to you, but I still feel like i'm damaging my body. Grow your children without fastfoods and we will defeat obesity.

[mohssinhussain]

3:20 never knew you could hunt for ice cream...

[anupam]

Watched this whole video shoving junk into my mouth.. Always wondered why these stuffs tasted so good..
Great job with the video.

[pausecsgo]

or maybe america doesnt have any traditional healthy food that taste good, tbh i dont know any healthy american food that taste good

[samimotaghedi]

I love junk food, especially cookies, cakes, ice creams, noodles, cheese puffs, bread, and deep fried veggies.

[Cloxxki]

Why are products with refined sugar allowed to be abought by infants unattended, but for tobacco you need to be 18? In some places you need to be 21 for alcohol. But refined sugars has more addicts, and way more early deaths let alone lives long of dismal health and life quality.

[Crawlerbasher]

Sugar is my weakness, I have more than I like, and find it hard to let go.

[Rainiac]

Watches videos about Junk Food, while eating a cheeseburger.

[pietrorita]

The pizza in italy is not a junk food !

[Cloxxki]

Sugar is fine in its natural form (when it comes with tailored fibres for digestion) is quite OK. In basically any quantity. Try getting fat on oranges, versus orange "juice" without bits from rehydrated concentrate. Or, a banana versus an "energy" (refined sugar) drink.

[Craznar]

My problem is that I'm unable to correctly eat due to a weird mental illness (sort of like PTSD which affects many aspects of my life), good news is I don't crave food because of it, bad news is that I eat what ever I can find as I cannot prepare it.

[DPats]

When you says burgers chips pizza ice cream and chocolate, trash food. That’s my daily diet 😂

[DvDick]

Why do Americans and English people consider pizza as junk food?
If prepared properly it's a very healthy dish.

[dp]

I have beef, peppers, onions, mushrooms prepared for making burritos-- it's so delicious-- so good. And I am still thinking about going to the drive-through to get a burger, fries and a milkshake. It makes no sense. It won't taste as good, but I WANT it.

[TopStrikerMaverick]

Nonsense. Veggies taste great if cooked properly

[thejepah]

My weaknesses is probably chips n crispy stiff.. 😅

[fireaza]

It definitely helps to have better choices available that also have an equivalent price and and prep speed to unhealthy fast food. I've been living in Japan for a number of years now, but I've yet to go to the McDonald's near me. Not because I hate McDonald's (I went there all the time when I lived in Australia), but because there are a bunch of convenience stores around me that sell loads of different onigiri. Which are a far healthier choice while still being mad tasty, cheap and super-quick to pick up and go.

[blkbbw]

Krispy Kreme donuts are my weakness! 🍩

[nosebleedpuddle]

Here's a question I raise.. For example most evenings, if I do not have something sweet before I go to bed, I find it much more difficult to sleep, sometimes staying up until 2am until I can not physically keep my eyes open. Though if I get out of bed, have like a tiny piece of chocolate or some honey, it helps me to sleep. Is this common? Is there a reasoning behind it?