How Harmful Fast Food Really Is?
Stopping by your favorite fast-food outlet tends to happen frequently-more frequently than we would like to admit.
Data analysis by The Food Institute shows that millennials splash over 45% of their budget on eating out.
This wasn’t the case four decades ago. Now, statistics from the Economic Research Service, US Department of Agriculture show that the average American family spends 50% of their food budget on eateries.
There’s nothing wrong with an occasional dinner at your favorite eatery. But making a habit of it could be injurious to your health. This article discusses what fast food does to your body.
1. Blood sugar spikes
Most fast foods are filled with carbs and very little to no fiber. Your digestive system breaks down these foods into glucose which is then transported by your blood to cells. This increases your blood sugar level. The pancreas responds to this by releasing insulin which transports the sugar to all the cells that need it thus restoring your blood sugar level to normal. Now, your organs are capable of handling this as long as you are healthy. However, frequent intake of carbs and sugary foods can trigger repeated blood sugar spikes. This may cause a decline or falter in your insulin response, thus increasing your risk for type 2 diabetes, weight gain, and insulin resistance.
2. The sodium in fast food isn’t good news
There’s plenty of sodium, sugar, and fat in fast foods. This is what makes fast food very tasty to some people. However, it is worth mentioning that diets loaded with sodium can cause water retention, which explains the bloating, puffiness, or swelling that occurs after eating fast food.
3. Fast food affects your respiratory system
Fast food contains excess calories which can cause weight gain. This may trigger obesity.
Obesity puts you at risk for respiratory conditions, such as shortness of breath and asthma.
The extra weight can put a great deal of pressure on your lungs and heart and symptoms may occur even with minimal exertion. You may experience difficulty when you are walking, exercising, or climbing the stairs.
4. Fast food affects the nervous system
Yes, fast food satisfies hunger but only in the short term. A study published online by Cambridge University Press found that people who eat processed pastries and fast food have a 51% likeliness of developing depression compared to those who don’t eat these foods or eat them in very little amounts.
5. Fast food affects your reproductive system
The ingredients contained in fast food and junk food may affect your fertility.
A particular study found that there’s plenty of phthalates in processed food. Phthalates are compounds that interrupt the actions of hormones in your body. Exposing yourself to high levels of these compounds can affect fertility, and trigger reproductive issues like birth defects.
6. Effect on the bones (skeletal system)
Obesity (a consequence of fast food) can cause complications with muscle mass and bone density. Obese people have a high risk of breaking bones and falling. You should make exercise and workouts a priority. This will help to build your muscles, which in turn support your bones. You should also eat healthy to help build strong bones.
