Is Junk Food Ruining Your Body?

Is Junk Food Ruining Your Body?

Ever since we were little children, we have been told that junk food is bad for us and that it is important to moderate the amount of junk food we take in.

Many people see junk food as the reason they are overweight, and there are some people who eat a lot of junk food can do so without gaining a pound, therefore feeling there is no harm to eating it.

Junk food, however, affects a lot more than just the number on the scale.

The fact that eating junk food affects more than just the scale doesn’t mean that the effect on the scale doesn’t matter. Obesity rates are much higher today than they have ever been in the United States and this is incredibly concerning since there are many negative effects that come along with obesity.

Some of these include things like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Below are some of the other impacts eating junk food has on your body, even if you don’t gain weight from eating it.

A study that was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology showed that when you eat a meal that is high in unhealthy fats and sugars your body experiences the effects immediately. The sugar will cause a large spike in your blood-sugar levels, known as post-prandial hyperglycemia.

Over the long term, this can lead to an increased risk of heart attack. However, there are effects that happen in a shorter frame of time as well.

Some of the more immediate effects of eating junk food include the five listed here.

• Your body’s tissues become inflamed. This is the same reaction that occurs in your body when your tissues are infected.

• Your blood vessels constrict. This leads to slower blood flow, which leads to feeling fatigued and can also lead to poor blood circulation.

• Damaging free radicals are generated. If too many free radicals are generated, the body is unable to fight them off and this can lead to disease and illness.

• It can elevate blood pressure, due to the constriction of blood vessels.
• A surge and drop in your insulin levels may leave you feeling hungry soon after you eat a junk food meal that is high in fats and sugars. These foods are known as insulin triggers and eating too much of them increases risks for type 2 diabetes.

Over time, junk food can also be the culprit for hormone imbalances, a change in your sense of taste and even a risk for mental health problems.

Eating a diet high in junk foods is also responsible for many other long-term effects such as those listed below.

• Higher risk of cancer, especially those relating to the heart, lungs, colon, and prostate.
• The decline of memory and cognitive function. Many studies have been done showing the positive impact eating healthy, whole foods has on memory and cognitive function.
• Due to the low fiber content of junk foods, you are likely going to find yourself constipated.
• Simple sugars such as those in white flour lead to skin issues such as acne.
• Sodium is often used as flavoring and preservatives, too much sodium will lead to water retention leaving you to feel bloated and puffy.
• Sodium is also a contributor to high blood pressure or enlarged heart muscle. Excessive sodium can also leave you at an increased risk of kidney stones, kidney disease, and stomach cancer.
• Drinking soda, or eating a lot of foods, high in sugar increases the acid levels in your mouth, which is responsible for tooth decay.

Limiting your consumption of junk food is a quick and easy way to prevent your blood sugar levels from experiencing extreme highs and lows, which can help you, stay healthier.