20 Detrimental Effects of Fast Food on Your Body
20… YES 20, negative effects from fast food! One effect would be reason enough to quit eating this fast food gunk and here you will find 20. So let’s hope you are feeling alert and ready to take in this important information about how much your body really, really doesn’t want you to eat fast food.
You see, in many cases, fast food is highly processed, containing high amounts of carbohydrates, added sugar, unhealthy fats, sodium, and basically zero nutritional value. All in all, food is fuel for your body… putting this ^ stuff into it causes operating internal parts of your body to shut down and deteriorate. These foods are almost always high in calories and when fast food replaces nutritious whole foods in your diet, it can lead to all kinds of bad health outcomes. If you thought fast foods merely affect your weight loss goals then you are in for a surprise. Here are 20 things that you can expect to happen to your body from a fast food diet in a relatively short amount of time. Especially if you regularly consume it.
You will increase your obesity risk.
If you were to switch your diet from nutritious food to purely fast food, I’m sure you can predict the results on your body fat percentage. Hello belly fat and worse. Due to the spike in consumption of empty calories, you could be put at risk for obesity which usually goes hand-in-hand with chronic diseases.
You’ll also starve…
Nutrition wise, the high calories in fast food lack in nutritional content. If this is constant in your diet, your body will begin to malfunction due to an improper amount of nutrients. When you eat fast food, your body is temporarily full with empty foods that don’t offer your body what it needs, nutrients. Even though you may have eaten a lot of calories you won’t be satisfied for long.
You’ll increase your cancer risk.
PhIP is short for 2-Amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo(4,5-b)pyridine. According to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, this chemical appears in the grilled chicken marketed by a popular fast food chain. This substance forms when meat is heated to a certain temperature. It is also associated with human breast, prostate, and colon cancers.
Memory and cognitive function will decline.
Any fast food, such as milkshakes, bacon burgers, and fried foods, can be high in saturated fats. There is research that suggests that fat intake may negatively impact brain function and memory. Higher intakes of saturated fats have the potential to impair memory speed and prospective memory.
You’ll heighten your risk of heart disease.
Fast food fats are commonly made up of saturated fatty acids. Think of, for example, when you fry bacon and the fat solidifies if you let it sit on the pan, those are saturated fats. They are generally found in animals and some plant oils. It is also what basically makes up a cheeseburger. These fats can raise blood cholesterol levels, which leads to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Constipation
Fiber helps keep your digestive system on track and working as it should. It moves waste out of the body. Fiber can be found in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. It helps to lower cholesterol and keeps blood sugar levels normal. However, as you can probably tell from the list of foods above, fiber is not a prominent nutrient in fast food. Eating mostly fast food will leave you as a constipated, unhappy camper.
Your skin will light up like a Christmas tree.
The simple sugars in fast foods, such as white flour and empty carbs like french fries, are the ones to blame for your skin problems. Plain and simple. The simple sugars aggravate your skin and cause skin breakouts like no other.
Bloating.
In the case of fast food, extra sodium is added in copious amounts. Some of these additives are monosodium glutamate (MSG), sodium nitrite, sodium saccharin, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), and sodium benzoate, which are used as flavoring or preservatives. It is advised that adults should stay below 1,500 mg of sodium per day and should never consume more than 2,300 mg/day. One meal of fast food can exceed 2,300 mg. Eating too much sodium results in your body retaining water. This will leave you feeling bloated and puffy. But that’s the least of your worries with sodium.
Your stomach and liver will suffer.
Sodium not only makes you bloat but it can also contribute to existing blood pressure or enlarge your heart muscle. This can lead to a heart attack or stroke. It may also worsen heart failure, cirrhosis, or kidney disease. Eating too much sodium can even lead to kidney cancer.
Your teeth will decay
Frequently drinking soda will lead to your teeth falling out, not to be dramatic. Your oral health is significantly affected by high sugar intake. Drinking large amounts of soda increase the acid in your mouth. This eventually leads to tooth decay or cavities. It is not limited to sodas either. McFlurries or Frosties will hurt your oral health as well.
Your mental health will decline.
Recent studies have linked eating fast food to cause a higher rate of depression. One study that was conducted showed that people who ate fast food were 51 percent more likely to develop depression than those who didn’t.
Your blood sugar will spike.
Eating high-carb fast foods increases your blood sugar. As you consume white-flour-based foods, for example, the bun from a burger, or French fries with your sandwich, your body takes in a large amount of white sugar. Frequent consumption of these foods may lead to diseases such as obesity and diabetes.
You will worry more.
Fast foods lack omega-3 fatty acids in fast foods. Not consuming these good fats can cause a more anxious mental state. It’s not limited to what fast food lacks, it also has to do with what it is stuffed with. This stuff is also high in refined carbohydrates, which can lead to fluctuations in blood sugar. If your blood sugar dips into hypoglycemic levels, you can experience anxiety, trembling, confusion and fatigue.
You could end up with liver disease.
PAPs stands for “polyfluoroalkyl phosphate esters,” chemicals that line fast-food packaging to make it grease and waterproof. The substances leach to the food inside the packaging and end up in your bloodstream. They are linked to liver disease as well as cancer. Gross.
Your cholesterol could skyrocket.
Much of the fast food that you may be consuming consists of animal products, are deep-fried and served with cheese alongside some nice high (unhealthy) fat dipping sauces. This fat content in fast food can contribute to high cholesterol, which can also lead to atherosclerosis. This occurs when plaque builds up in the arteries and blocks blood flow circulation through the heart and organs.
Your risk of cancer will grow even more.
Sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite are additives used to maintain meat color and to inhibit bacterial growth. Both of these chemicals can break down into nitrosamines, substances with the potential to cause cancer.
Your bones could weaken.
As mentioned, fast food is packed with sodium more often than not. A single Big Mac has 970 mg of sodium, well over one-third of the daily recommended allowance. This can cause your bones to weaken, possibly leading to osteoporosis.
Food coloring can lead to cancer.
A study by the National Toxicology Program of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says 2-methylimidazole causes cancer in lab rats. 2-methylimidazole is an ingredient in caramel coloring which is used in most dark-colored sauces and sodas. It gets worse. Another of this coloring agent’s ingredients is 4-methylimidazole. Researchers tested the effects of 4-methylimidazole on lab rats and mice and concluded that there was clear carcinogenic activity in both male and female.
You will feel lethargic.
With large portions that are high in fat, like fast foods such as burgers, fries, and milkshakes, they can often deliver a hefty dose of calories. These large portions will leave you feeling full and lethargic.
Or, you will feel hyper.
To add to the mental effects of fast foods listed above, fast food can induce hyperactivity. This occurs due to the high amounts of artificial coloring preservatives. So do yourself and your body a favor and skip the fast food. You don’t need it! There are plenty of healthy, equally (if not more) delicious meals that your body will thank you for.