Can Eat Fast Food Lead to Health Problems?
Many people go through the drive-thru or dine in a fast-food restaurant more often than they would like to admit. Research has shown that millennials spend almost half of their food budget eating out. Compared to 40 years ago, the average family now spends half of their food budget on restaurant food.
In many cases, fast food is highly processed, and has large amounts of sodium, unhealthy fats, added sugar, and carbohydrates – all the while offering very little nutrition. Today, fast food replaces nutritious whole foods in a person’s diet, which can lead to various kinds of bad health outcomes. Here are some of the ways a fast food diet can affect your health.
- Increase obesity risk. A high-calorie intake leads to obesity, which further puts a person at risk for developing chronic diseases.
- Less nutrition. Fast food has low nutritional content, which deprives the body of the necessary nutrients it requires to properly function.
- Increase cancer risk. Fast food chicken samples contain a substance called PhIP that is associated with human colon, breast, and prostate cancer.
- Increase risk for heart disease. Fats in food are made up of saturated fatty acids that can raise blood cholesterol levels and increase the risk for cardiovascular disease.
- The decline in memory and cognitive function. Fast foods high in saturated fats are found to impair memory speed and flexibility and prospective memory.
- Constipation. Most fast food does not have high dietary fiber content, which plays a big role in the digestive system.
- Skin problems. Eating fast food, particularly those with simple sugars, empty cards, and white flour can cause skin issues like acne.
- Bloating. Consuming too much sodium makes the body retain more water, making you feel puffy and bloated.
- Kidney and stomach problems. Excess sodium also increases the risk of kidney stones and kidney disease.
- Tooth decay. Frequent soda intake increases the amount of acid in the mouth, which can lead to tooth decay and cavities.
- The decline in mental health. People who eat fast food are 51 percent more likely to develop depression compared to those who do not.
- Spike in blood sugar. Eating high-carb fast food increases blood sugar which can lead to diseases like obesity and diabetes.
- Anxiety. The lack of healthy omega-3 fatty acids can create a more anxious mental state, confusion, and fatigue.
- Increase inflammation. Phthalates line plastic food and beverage packaging can lead to inflammation, which can cause health problems like obesity.
- Increase cholesterol. The high-fat content in fast food contributes to high cholesterol which then leads to atherosclerosis.
- Weak bones. A high sodium intake can weaken the bones, and lead to possible problems like osteoporosis.
- Lethargy. The hefty dose of calories contained in large fast food portions can leave the person feeling full and lethargic.
- Hyperactivity. Aside from causing depression and anxiety, eating a diet high in artificial preservatives and colors can increase hyperactivity.
Because they are marketed to be cheap and convenient, it is not a surprise why consumers continue to eat fast food. But while the occasional fast food meal will not hurt, forming the habit of eating out can be doing several things to your health. And when these habits are left unchanged, we can only expect health to continuously decline.
Recent statistics on the population’s current food intake habits are growing more and more alarming by the day. Now, more than ever, limiting or completely eliminating fast food from our diets is very important to preserve health. Talk to your doctor about the effective ways how to eat healthier, along with some helpful tips on how to pick food items that are good for the body.
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