1. You’ll increase your obesity risk
If you switch from a balanced diet of whole foods to one of fast food, the most obvious difference you’d register would be the enormous uptick in (largely empty) calories you’d consume per meal. Hello, belly fat — and worse: “The high calorie intake can lead to obesity, which puts you at risk for developing chronic diseases,” warns Jim White, RD, ACSM, owner of Jim White Fitness&Nutrition Studios.
2. But you’ll also starve
nutritionally speaking. The high calories in fast food are accompanied by low nutritional content. Too much of that, and your body will begin to lack the necessary nutrients it needs to function properly. “Your body is temporarily full with empty foods that don’t provide nourishment, so even though you may have eaten a lot of calories, you won’t be satisfied for long,” says Amy Shapiro, MS, RD, CDN, founder of Real Nutrition NYC. For 150+ ideas for delicious foods that will slim your waist without sacrificing flavor, check out the best-selling Zero Belly Cookbook — test panelists lost 16 pounds in 14 days!
3. You'll increase your cancer risk
PhIP is short for 2-Amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo(4,5-b)pyridine. According to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, this catchy-sounding chemical appears in the grilled chicken marketed by a major fast-food chain. “The organization says the substance, which forms when meat is heated to a certain temperature, is associated with human breast, prostate and colon cancers,” says Seth Santoro of LA Life Chef.
4. You’ll heighten your risk of heart disease
Fats commonly found in fast food are made up of saturated fatty acids. Those are fats that are solid at room temperature, often derived from animals and some plant oils. You’ll find it abundant in, say, a cheeseburger. Jim White warns that these fats can raise the blood cholesterol levels, which leads to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. So kick your fast-food habit and stock up on these 10 Foods That Make Your Heart Younger!
5. Memory and cognitive function will decline
Fast foods like bacon burgers, some fried foods and milkshakes can be high in saturated fats. “It’s been long established that saturated fats can negatively impact the heart, but there’s also research that suggests high saturated fat intake may negatively impact brain function and memory,” says Marisa Moore, MBA, RDN, LD. She adds that higher intakes of saturated fatty acids may impair memory speed and flexibility and prospective memory (your ability to remember to do what you intended). You intended not to pull into the drive-thru, remember?
6. You’ll be constipated
Dietary fiber (commonly found in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts and seeds) plays a dominant role in the digestive system. Fiber helps keep your digestive tract working properly as it ushers wastes out of the body. It can help lower cholesterol and keep blood-sugar levels normal. “Unfortunately, most fast foods don’t contain high dietary fiber contents,” says White. What does? These 11 Best High-Fiber Foods for Weight Loss!
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