‘JUNCS’ stands for junk food, ultra-processed food, nutritionally inappropriate foods, caffeinated/colored/carbonated beverages, sugar-sweetened beverages.

These are known unhealthy food for their fat, sugar and salt content, harmful non-nutritional substances or ultra-processed foods and findings that consumption of these foods and beverages is associated with free sugar and energy intake, higher body mass index and risk adverse cardio metabolic consequences in children and adolescents. The major adverse effects related to the intake of fruit juice and fast foods are obesity and its associated complications like dental caries, allergies, micro-organism contamination leading to infections and risk of cancer due to carcinogenic and allergenic properties of some food additives.

Takeaway:

* Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first six months of life.
* No fruit juices and drinks should be fed to infants and young children less than 2 years age. * Avoid JUNCS