Eating fast food everyday has become a norm for most people. It is widely attributed to the growing busy schedules leaving people either too tired or with little time to prepare their own meals. Well, many other people blame this on lack of enough recipes and skills to prepare enjoyable dishes for themselves. Admittedly, fast foods are both less costly in terms of time and financial input. However, it is important to note that regular consumption of fast foods is harmful to your weight and overall health.
Bad Health Effects of Commonly Consumption of Fast Foods
Increase Risk of Being Obese
As already mentioned, fast foods are associated with high amounts of calories. It is estimated that taking three meals of fast foods daily may provide for up to 150% of your required daily caloric intake. Continuous consumption of excess calories is the number one cause of belly fat, overweight and obesity which can lead to many other negative health effects.
Increase Your Risk of High Blood Pressure
You have all the reasons to worry about being at risk of high blood pressure if you continuously take fast foods. This is because fast foods increase your chances of being obese and fat deposits around the arteries which make them constricted. Moreover, it is difficult to strike a balance of essential body elements such as sodium and potassium with consistent consummation of fast foods. Large amount of salt intake can cause high blood pressure. Imagine the result of two or three such meals daily!
Increase Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
Poor diet is a major risk factor that contributes to strokes and other cardiovascular diseases. Eating fast food everyday increases the level of added sugar and saturated fats in your body, such as cheese, mayonnaise and soda. Added sugars can cause metabolic syndrome including elevated triglyceride, while saturated fats can lead to higher cholesterol levels. Increased triglyceride and cholesterol level are closely related with cardiovascular diseases such as strokes, coronary heart disease, peripheral arterial disease and heart attack.
Diabetes
Studies indicate that eating fast foods at least twice weekly may lead to insulin resistance. This usually leads to hyperglycemia and consequently diabetes mellitus. To reduce your chances of being diabetic, it is important to keep a healthy diet without fast foods.
Increase Cancer Risks
A new study from the Seattle-based Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center confirms that frequent intake of deep fried chicken and other fast foods boosts your susceptibility of being cancer victim. This is because they contain chemicals associated with colon, breast and prostate cancers.
Decline Your Memory and Cognition
Most fast foods have large amount of saturated fatty acids. They affect the brain synapses, which will decline your brain flexibility and speed as well as your cognitive ability.
Cause Constipation
Healthy foods contain dietary fiber, commonly contained in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, seeds and nuts, which can make your digestive tracts work actively to exclude wastes out of your body. Moreover, it can lower your cholesterol level and balance sugar levels. However, eating fast food everyday will not bring you dietary fiber contents.
Deteriorate Your Skin
Acne and other skin problems are a great health challenge to both young and older people. More of acne scars are associated with poor diet consisting of simple sugars, empty carbohydrates and white flour included in junk foods.
Lead to Stomach and Kidney Problems
Again, too much sodium in fast foods leads to a harmful buildup of fluids if you suffer from cirrhosis, and congestive heart failure. Excessive sodium may cause kidney stones and stomach cancer among other gastrointestinal diseases.
Lead to Teeth Decay
Your teeth define how people look at you, so it needs a lot of care. However, eating fast foods which are very sugary or acidic can lead to tooth decay and cavities.
Poor Mental Health
Decline in mental health is one of the long terms effects of eating fast foods every day. It has a higher rate of causing anxiety, depression and other health problems when people consume fast foods for a long duration.
Increase Chances of Liver Disease
Polyfluoroalkyl phosphate esters, commonly known as PAPs, are chemicals contained in the lining of most fast food packaging. Recent studies link these substances to liver cirrhosis and cancer.
Lead to Weak Bones
Sodium again! While most fast foods contain higher amounts of sodium, they are deficient in calcium. This may lead to weaker bones, osteoporosis or osteogenesis imperfecta.
Increase Chances of Lethargy
Fast foods have a large dose of calories. These quick economical food options are real energy killers and will leave you drained, tired and sickly.
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