What Are ill Effects of Junk Food? Are there any? Some of you might be wondering!
Yes, junk foods are tasty, and many people consume them, especially children. But these unhealthy foods only taste good on our tongues and do not provide any nutritional value to our bodies.
In-fact frequent consumption of junk food can have serious side effects leading to the deterioration of your health.
Some of the side effects of junk food might include depression, various digestive disorders, heart issues, cancer, diabetes, or even early Death.
While most people are aware of these disadvantages, few are not & hence to help them out, We will be covering 10 of its drawbacks which hopefully will help curb junk food addiction and improve nutritional status.
What are junk foods?
The term junk food dates back to the 1950’s and refers to the food items which are high in calories and low in nutrients. Some of the prime examples of junk foods are pizza, burgers, cakes, biscuits etc which tend to contain a large amount of sugar,salt and fat and are usually processed containing artificial flavours and additives. These items are usually available in boxes, cans or packages.
Why are junk foods addictive?
The taste we feel has more to do with our brains than our mouths. When we consume junk food, a chemical known as dopamine gets released, which provides a sense of satisfaction, and it is a common human tendency to repeat the things which make us happy. Moreover, junk foods are also known to bypass our natural system, tricking our brains into believing that we have not consumed any calories and enticing us to eat more than what is needed.
How is junk food harmful for our health?
So why junk food is harmful to your body? It’s because it contains fats and trans-fats, which can lead to obesity, type 2 diabetes and various other diseases. It can also cause severe headaches, migraine and acne. Apart from these there are various other serious issues a junk food can cause. So now let’s learn about junk food harmful effects.
What are ill effects of junk food?
● Cardiovascular problems
● Kidney damage
● Dental cavities
● Depression
● Skin problems
● Learning and memory problems
● Loss of appetite and digestion
● Inadequate growth and development
● Impacts the Respiratory System
● Impacts reproductive system
1. Cardiovascular problems
One of the major junk food side effects are cardiovascular problems. Junk or fast foods have a high amount of fat, salt, carbohydrates, and sugar which can build up plaque in the arteries blocking blood flow throughout your body which can result in various heart diseases, heart attacks, and strokes. However, one can prevent this by consuming a rich diet such as fruits, vegetables, and other inflammatory food items.
2. Kidney damage
Consuming junk foods occasionally is fine, but making it part of your everyday dietsan may have serious long-term effects on your kidneys. According to a recent study, too much consumption of junk foods can lead to type 2 diabetes, where the body stops generating enough insulin resulting in diabetic kidney disease. Treating yourself to burgers and pizzas should be ok, as long as it does not replace your balanced healthy diet.
3. Dental Cavities
One of the concerning bad effects of junk food is tooth decay and dental cavities caused by the salt and sugar in these foods. Debris sticks to your teeth upon consuming these foods allowing acids to build on the surface of your teeth. Apart from this, these foods are also known to break down the teeth’s enamel, making them highly prone to cavities and tooth Decay.
4. Depression
One of the serious side effects of eating junk food is depression caused by the amount of sugar present in the blood measured on the GI scale (Glycemic index). Consuming food items such as white bread, white rice and soda may trigger a hormonal response in the body trying to reduce the blood sugar levels resulting into mood changes such as fatigue and depression, but this can easily avoid this by having a diet rich in fiber,consuming whole grains,vegetables and non-juice fruits.
5. Skin Problems
Too much junk food can harm your health as well as your skin by stimulating oil and sweat glands resulting in acne. Moreover, foods high in fats and sugars can cause your skin to darken leading to hyper-pigmentation & uneven skin tone. One can prevent this by avoiding packed and canned foods, sauces, spicy foods, top salt, fatty red meat, alcohol, etc.
6. Learning and memory problems
Junk foods are known to cause toxic inflammation affecting PNNs (Perineuronal nets) which are structures forming a network around neurons inside our brains, causing learning and memory loss & once your brain cells get damaged, you cannot replace them, even if you start following a healthy rich diet.
7. Loss of appetite and digestion
Everybody knows that junk foods can help us gain weight, but on other hand, too much of it’s consumption can also destroy our appetite for healthy food by affecting the hippocampus, an area of our brain that supports memory & regulates appetite.
8. Inadequate growth and development
Junk foods not only affect our health and make us obese, but it can also pose a serious threat to the bones of the growing kid by stunting the skeletal growth and making the bones weaker even if consumed in a small amount.
9. Impacts the Respiratory System
Junk food indirectly harms our respiratory system by making us obese. Obesity can increase your chances of developing respiratory problems like asthma & can even cause shortness of Breath.
10. Impacts reproductive system
According to a study, men who ate too much fast food like pizzas, burgers, fries, etc had 25% lower sperm counts compared to men who followed a balanced healthy rich diet on the other hand women who consumed too much fast food took time to become pregnant and even likely experienced infertility compared to those who avoided these kinds of meals.
Conclusion:
Yes, these junk food ill effects can scare the hell out of junk food lovers but worry not as long as consumed occasionally in small quantities. Consuming home-cooked food and following a healthy balanced diet is the way to go if you wish to keep yourself away from deadly diseases and live a healthy life.
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