Consequences of Eating Junk Food

     

   The term junk food refers to foods high in calories, unhealthy fats, sugar and salt but low in valuable nutrients like complex carbohydrates, protein, vitamins and minerals. Snacks and dessert foods like candy, potato chips and ice cream, as well as fast foods like hamburgers and french fries, all fall into this category. While the occasional junk food meal won't ruin your health, consistently eating junk food contributes to serious health problems.

     You may eat junk food because it;s cheap, because it's easy and simple or because it tastes good, but the cause isn't as dire as the effects. According to National Institutes of Health (NIH), eating junk food meals 2 or more times each week can threaten your weight and your health.

      Here are the facts about how excessive junk food consumption affects your body :

1. Affects your energy levels

   Junk food doesn't contain the nutrients your body needs to stay healthy. As a result, you may feel chronically fatigued and lack the energy you need to complete daily tasks. The high levels of sugar in junk food puts your metabolism under stress. When you eat refined sugar, your pancreas secretes high amounts of insulin to prevent a dangerous spike in blood sugar levels.

    Because junk food doesn't contain adequate amounts of protein and good carbohydrates, your blood sugar levels will drop suddenly after eating, leaving you feeling grumpy, fatigued and craving sugar. Eating too much junk food can make you feel really uncomfortable. It can lead to mood swings and constipation, and lower your energy levels so that you lack interest in the exercise you need to burn off those extra-calories.

2. Contributes to poor performance and obesity

     Junk food contains large amounts of fat, and as fat accumulates in your body, you'll gain weight and could become obese. The more weight you gain, the more you'll be at risk for serious chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease and arthritis. you could even have a heart attack.

    In the short term, high levels of dietary fat lead to poor cognitive performance. You'll feel tired and have trouble concentrating because your body might not be getting enough oxygen.

3. Lead to serious disease

     Eating too much junk food in the long term can lead us to serious diseases like heart attack, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, stress, and damage your liver.

    Despite being labeled as "junk", consuming such foods usually does not pose any immediate health concerns and is generally safe when integrated into a well-balanced diet.