About the risks of eating fast food
Many of us lead busy lifestyles these days that do not allow much time for preparing home-cooked meals. As a result, many people are turning to prepackaged, processed food or fast food as a quick way to refuel during the day. There are many major downsides to the rising trend in processed and fast food consumption—obesity, heart disease and increased risk for diabetes are just a few health problems associated with eating these types of foods on a regular basis.
Individuals with diabetes have elevated blood glucose levels due to the inability to process insulin properly. This can cause many long-term health complications unless blood sugar levels are kept in check with a healthy diet.
According to the Mayo Clinic, saturated and trans fats, sodium and cholesterol increase the risk of the onset of diabetes. Processed food items and fast food are notorious for containing large amount of all of these ingredients. It is difficult to find fast food menu items that are not heavy in these unhealthy ingredients.
In a 15-year study funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, researchers found that young people who consumed fast food regularly had significantly higher rates of obesity in addition to insulin resistance developing in middle age. Multiple studies such as this have been carried out with similar results.
Recommendations such as limiting portions of fast food by ordering from the children’s menu will decrease your risks of developing diabetes. The most effective solution in preventing the onset of diabetes, however, is to avoid fast food altogether. To optimize your health and to prevent diabetes, it is important to prepare meals at home more often using fresh ingredients instead of processed food. Changing the way that you and your family eats can make a big difference in your risk for diabetes and a number of other serious medical conditions.
For more information about processed food and fast food risks, contact your local doctor who will arrange for you to see a dietitian and nutritionist.
