Hopping into your favorite fast-food restaurant or stopping by the drive-thru is a habit that people do not like to admit they have. According to a lot of research, many people spend up to 45% of their budget for food on eating out. In recent times, that number has increased to about 50% of the food budget. While it doesn’t hurt to eat out occasionally, it could be a problem for your health if you make eating out a habit. These are the effects of fast food on different parts of your body;
Effect on your digestive and cardiovascular syst
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emsFast food like drinks are packed with carbs and they contain very little or no fiber. When these foods are broken down by your digestive system, the carbs would be released into your bloodstream as glucose. This would lead to an increase in your blood sugar. Then, your pancreas releases insulin as a response to the surge in glucose. Insulin is responsible for the transportation of sugar through the body to cells that require it for energy. When the sugar is stored or used by your body, your blood sugar levels would revert to normal. Your body highly regulates this blood sugar process. Your organs would be able to handle these sugar spikes as long as you are healthy. However, if you are constantly consuming too much sugar, it would result in constant spikes in blood sugar. As time goes on, the normal insulin response of your body would start failing due to the recurring insulin spikes. This would make you more susceptible to weight gain, type 2 diabetes, and insulin resistance.
Sugar and fat
A lot of meals you eat in fast-food restaurants contain added sugar. In addition to providing you with little nutrition, you will also be consuming extra calories. It is recommended that you do not consume more than 150 calories of added sugar daily. This results in about nine teaspoons.
Several fast-food drinks are more than 12 ounces. In a 12-ounce drink, you will get eight teaspoons of sugar. That is 39g of sugar, 140 calories, and that is all.
During food processing, a type of fat is manufactured and it is known as a trans fat. It is mostly found in;
- Cookies
- Crackers
- Pizza dough
- Pastries
- Fried pies
Trans fat is not healthy or good, no matter the amount you consume. Consuming foods that have it can reduce your HDL (good cholesterol), increase your LDL (bad cholesterol), and make you more susceptible to heart disease and type 2 diabetes. A study showed that people that eat at restaurants tend to underestimate their calorie intake by up to 20%.
Effect on your skeletal system
The sugar and carbs found in processed food and fast food can raise the acids in the mouth. Your tooth enamel is broken down by these acids. Bacteria can take hold if the tooth enamel is destroyed and then you may develop cavities. Being obese can also result in problems with muscle mass and bone density. People with obesity would have a higher risk of breaking bones from a fall. It is essential that you keep engaging in exercises that support the bones, build muscle, and follow a healthy diet to reduce bone loss.
Effect on your integumentary system
The types of food you consume can have an impact on the appearance of your skin, but it may be far from the suspected ones. It had been suspected that greasy foods and chocolate are the main factors that are responsible for the outbreak of acne, but research has shown that it is actually carbs. Foods that are rich in carbs can cause spikes in blood sugar and these sudden surges in blood sugar levels can cause acne to be triggered. People that make it a habit of eating at fast-food restaurants are at a greater risk of developing eczema. Eczema is a skin condition that is characterized by skin that is itchy and inflamed.
Effect on the respiratory system
Weight gain can happen as a result of consuming too many calories from fast-food meals. This can result in obesity. People that are obese are more susceptible to having respiratory issues like shortness of breath or asthma. The additional weight gained can place pressure on your lungs and heart and might present itself with symptoms with the smallest of exertion. You might experience problems with your breathing when you are exercising, climbing stairs, or walking. Research has shown that people that are always eating out are at a greater risk of developing asthma.
