Depression To Stroke, Fast Food Can Cause Whole Host Of Health Problems

 Fast food is popular among people of all ages. Whether it be a restaurant or roadside food corner, fast food is loved by all. Moreover, consumption and popularity are only increasing every day. Food bloggers have also made it a trend to showcase their city’s fast food specialities on social media.

Pizza, burgers, patties, pastries, cookies, chips, momos, noodles, pav bhaji, pani puri, chaat and so many other items fall under the fast-food umbrella. Soda, soft drinks and processed juices fall into this category too. All of these even when occasionally add up to a huge amount of junk food being consumed by us. This is worrisome as fast food can cause a lot of health complications.

According to Healthline, fast food can affect various internal organs in the body which can lead to chronic diseases or heart problems such as stroke. The list had these implications:

Headache – Starting from our brain itself, food filled with sodium can cause frequent headaches.

Depression – Eating fast food is linked to an increased risk of depression.Acne – Acne – Carbohydrate-rich food can cause acne breakouts on our skin.ental problems – Carbs and sugar can cause bacteria build-up and eventually lead to cavities.

Heart disease or stroke – Elevated cholesterol and increased blood pressure can lead to stroke or heart disease.

High cholesterol – Fried foods can cause bad cholesterol levels to increase to abnormal amounts.

High blood pressure – Sodium-rich fast food can cause a spike in our blood pressure levels causing heart problems.lood sugar spike – Filled with carbs, fast food can cause frequent insulin spikes. This may cause our blood sugar levels to increase.

Obesity – Fast food can cause obesity as its calorific content is too high.

Insulin resistance – Fast food can cause insulin resistance and hence type 2 diabetes.

Bloating and puffiness - Eating too fast may cause bloating in the body due to increased levels of water retention.

According to Healthline, fast food can affect various internal organs in the body.

Healthy Eating Plate

Building a Healthy and Balanced Diet

Make most of your meal vegetables and fruits – ½ of your plate.
Aim for color and variety, and remember that potatoes don’t count as vegetables on the Healthy Eating Plate because of their negative impact on blood sugar.

Go for whole grains – ¼ of your plate.
Whole and intact grains—whole wheat, barley, wheat berries, quinoa, oats, brown rice, and foods made with them, such as whole wheat pasta—have a milder effect on blood sugar and insulin than white bread, white rice, and other refined grains.

Protein power – ¼ of your plate.
Fish, poultry, beans, and nuts are all healthy, versatile protein sources—they can be mixed into salads, and pair well with vegetables on a plate. Limit red meat, and avoid processed meats such as bacon and sausage.

Healthy plant oils – in moderation.
Choose healthy vegetable oils like olive, canola, soy, corn, sunflower, peanut, and others, and avoid partially hydrogenated oils, which contain unhealthy trans fats. Remember that low-fat does not mean “healthy.”

Drink water, coffee, or tea.
Skip sugary drinks, limit milk and dairy products to one to two servings per day, and limit juice to a small glass per day.

Stay active.
The red figure running across the Healthy Eating Plate’s placemat is a reminder that staying active is also important in weight control.

The main message of the Healthy Eating Plate is to focus on diet quality:

• The type of carbohydrate in the diet is more important than the amount of carbohydrate in the diet, because some sources of carbohydrate—like vegetables (other than potatoes), fruits, whole grains, and beans—are healthier than others.
• The Healthy Eating Plate also advises consumers to avoid sugary beverages, a major source of calories—usually with little nutritional value—in the American diet.
• The Healthy Eating Plate encourages consumers to use healthy oils, and it does not set a maximum on the percentage of calories people should get each day from healthy sources of fat. In this way, the Healthy Eating Plate recommends the opposite of the low-fat message promoted for decades by the USDA

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