Harmful Effects of Junk Food Consumption

What is Junk Food?

Foods that lack essential nutrients and minerals and are high in Kcal, fats, salt, and sugar are referred as junk food. Also known as discretionary food or optional food, this food doesn’t play a role in healthy eating, especially if it's eaten to excess.

Why Should You Avoid Junk Food?

The nutritive value in junk food is very low or negligible. Long term consumption of junk food makes an individual prone to various life-threatening consequences and other health related complications.

Besides leading to gain weight, the other short-term effects of eating junk food include:

• Increased stress levels.

• Fatigue and decreased energy levels.

• Difficulty sleeping.

• Concentration difficulties.

• Feeling down.

• Tooth decay.

Here are a few reasons you should avoid or lay off highly processed junk foods.

1. Leads to Obesity

Leads to obesity or increases the risk of being obese, which is the root cause of many diseases, such as diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, and many more.

2. Digestive Problems

Eating too much of junk food leads the brain into a state of confusion. It also increases the blood sugar levels which worsen the condition further and eventually makes an individual feel the need to eat more food, leading to indigestion.

3. Loss of Nutrition

Junk food doesn’t have any nutritional properties which the body requires to keep itself healthy. It does not provide essential vitamins and minerals and hence causes loss of nutrition. Eating too much of junk food can cause lower energy levels, feeling fatigue, and also put metabolism under stress.

4. May Lead to Depression

High consumption of junk food leads to the loss of amino acids and nutrients that are essential for our health. The high amount of sugar and fat in junk food may cause some chemical reactions in the brain that ultimately affect its normal functioning, resulting in inability to cope up with stress that can start making you feel depressed.

5. Affects Heart Health

Extra fat acquired by the body during the consumption of junk food leads to fat deposition in the arteries. As a result, the heart pumps blood with more pressure, putting more effort. If the heart exerts on a longer-term, it may result in myocardial infarction, heart attack and other cardiovascular diseases.

6. Negative Effect on the Respiratory System

Excess calories from fast food meals can cause weight gain which can increase your risk of developing respiratory problems, including asthma and shortness of breath. The extra pounds can put pressure on your heart and lungs, and symptoms may show up even with little exertion. You may notice difficulty breathing when you’re walking, climbing stairs, or exercising.

7. Kidney Damage

Consuming junk food for a long time can cause kidney diseases because the high amount of bad fats and sodium (salt) content in food increases blood pressure and affects kidney function.

8. Affects Tooth and oral Health

The junk food that is consumed dreadfully affects the enamel of the teeth in the long run. They promote growth of bacteria and plague build-up, which leads to gum problems and bad breath.

What Happens to Our Bodies Shortly After We Consume Junk Foods?

These are some changes you will see in your body shortly after junk food consumption:

• Sense of tiredness within a few hours of eating junk foods

• Short-term energy boost due to the heavy carbohydrate content

• Drop in blood sugar levels because of the refined sugars found in junk foods

• Food cravings and hunger, as the carbs and sugars are digested quickly

• Stomach bloating

• Inability to concentrate

Long-Term Impacts of Junk Foods

When you regularly eat junk foods, you are prone to the following health risks:

• High-saturated fats in junk foods can cause a spike in your cholesterol levels, making you vulnerable to cardiac ailments like strokes and heart attacks.

• Hypertension resulting from high blood pressure caused by junk foods

• Craving more junk foods repeatedly. This is because junk foods trigger the release of the “happy hormone”, dopamine in the body. Due to this, eating junk food gives you a sense of satisfaction and happiness, and you tend to look forward to experiencing the same feelings again. In other words, you may become addicted to junk foods.

Examples of junk food include

• Cakes and biscuits

• Fast foods (such as hot chips, burgers and pizzas)

• Chocolate and sweets

• Processed meat (such as bacon)

• Snacks (such as chips)

• Sugary drinks (such as sports, energy and soft drinks)

• Alcoholic drinks

One of the important components of our overall wellness is also being financially secured. Healthcare emergencies can happen any time, but a good health insurance policy can protect you from such uncertain situations. To know more about Wellness and other health related tips, visit the wellness corner.

Sources: frontiersin.org

Disclaimer: This blog provides general information and discussions about health and related subjects. The information and other content provided in this blog, website or any linked materials are not intended and should not be considered or used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Kindly contact your doctor before starting a new medicine or health regime.

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Last Updated on January 22, 2025

Published on July 31, 2023