COVID 19 has not been easing off of health scares and the anxiety born out of constantly worrying about the safety of your loved ones. Let us not try to add to our health worries. There are things you are doing that could actually be damaging your health. And at a time when we all need to be at peak health, you should focus on strengthening your immunity.
None of us can claim that we are able to resist the lure of fast foods. They are delicious and at the end of a stressful day, these foods can be mood-lifters. They are part and parcel of friends’ meet-ups. We even serve them to guests because who honestly has the time to cook elaborate dishes?
But the harsh truth is, fast foods have a ruinous effect on your health. They are particularly notorious for triggering and/or aggravating obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases and even some types of cancer.
As you may have heard, some of these diseases are considered comorbidities for a person infected with COVID-19. That means if you develop these health conditions, you are likely to suffer a more severe COVID infection than usual. So why take that risk? Let us get into the details of how fast foods can destroy your health.
Fast foods are loaded with unhealthy fats that can increase LDL (bad cholesterol) levels in your body. This LDL deposits along the arteries that carry blood to your heart. The arteries become narrow and the walls become hard. Blood has to push harder to reach your heart. This triggers hypertension (high blood pressure). Also, since the passages are narrowed, very little blood is able to make its way to the heart. Those muscles of the heart that are oxygen-deprived (blood carries oxygen) slowly stop functioning. Eventually, LDL and high blood pressure trigger a heart attack or even a cardiac arrest.
Fast foods may also initiate a stroke. The LDL that accumulates in the arteries as plaque may break free. Blood will carry it to the brain where it will cause a stroke.
NAFLD is a silent killer. It can wear away your liver’s ability to function. It is not just alcohol that causes chronic liver disease but foods that pack in a lot of unhealthy fats and sugars can also damage your liver. Fast foods can cause fats to be deposited in your liver and may even trigger inflammation. If unchecked, this could lead to serious liver damage (cirrhosis). NAFLD may even cause liver cancer. NAFLD is almost always a result of a diet rich in triglycerides (hint: all those rolls, burgers and pizzas you adore). NAFLD can easily be avoided and even if you have already been diagnosed with fatty liver disease, you can drastically reduce your liver fat by losing weight.
Fast foods are loaded with sugars, fats and salts. None of these in excess is good for you, especially if you have already been diagnosed with diabetes. These foods will mess up your diabetes management plans. Besides, fast foods have a high glycemic index, which means right after consumption, they will make your blood sugar level shoot up, the level will drop again soon. This constant fluctuation is really bad for someone with diabetes and may even trigger insulin resistance in people who do not have diabetes.
Also Read: Are French Fries Healthy? A Detailed Nutritional Analysis
By now we all know that fast foods stuff us with calories. Our sedentary lifestyles do not allow us to burn these extra calories and the result is weight gain. This has happened to multitudes of people during the lockdown. But did you know that obesity is the risk factor for many diseases including heart problems, fatty liver disease, arthritis, asthma, type 2 diabetes and stroke?
Fast foods and obesity can also trigger different types of cancers such as breast cancer, endometrial cancer, colon cancer, kidney cancer, ovarian cancer, liver cancer, oesophagus cancer or kidney cancer.
Actually, there is a bit of good news. Some ‘fast foods’ are not all that bad for you. Usually, grilled foods use very very little oil and hence are not exceptionally harmful. Instances of good fast foods include chicken bowls, quinoa bowls, protein bowls, grilled sandwiches, tandoori chicken or paneer, veg/ chicken wraps (if the tortilla is made from whole wheat or mixed grains). But a word of caution, this is not a license to binge on fast foods. Everything needs to be eaten in moderation.
Also Read: Best Fast Food For Weight Watchers: Making Healthy Choices on the Go
Like any addiction, this too may seem like a difficult addiction to extricate yourself from.
Take a vow to steer clear of fast foods. Do not push off implementing this vow, do it right away. There are many healthy foods you can eat that taste exciting. Eat healthy and filling meals so that you are not tempted to binge. Also, remember to exercise a little every day to amplify the effects of your healthy diet and to boost your immunity against diseases.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
It’s been 72 years since India wrested freedom from the Brits. The right to govern the country was transferred to the Indian Constituent Assembly on 15th August 1947 and set India on the path to becoming a sovereign republic.
Independence Day celebrates political liberation. But there’s more to freedom than just that. Because liberty comes in many shapes and forms. While we may elect our own leaders to govern our country, many other freedoms still elude us to this day. One such freedom is the dependence on unhealthy habits that plague our health.
These habits are easy to start but very difficult to step away from. In fact, these habits become an extension of most people without them realizing it. In the long term, they can cause various debilitating illnesses if you don’t take steps to dissociate from them.
Many of us spend hours listening to music with our earphones plugged in while working, travelling, or even sleeping. We hardly realize that being exposed to loud music and noise for prolonged hours makes us vulnerable to hearing loss. You might not notice anything serious right away, but a couple of years down the line will surely have you wishing you had not turned up the volume too loud.
There could be many reasons why you aren’t sleeping as much as you need to. You may have to work overtime or bring work home. Or maybe simply worrying over how to increase your income is keeping you up at night.
If you don’t get enough sleep, a lot of things can go wrong with your body. Your immunity will weaken and that will start a domino effect. You will become vulnerable to illnesses. Your attention span will dwindle, and gradually your cognitive abilities too will be affected. Your brain will not be able to keep up with what’s required of it. Sleep deprivation may even increase your risk of getting diabetes and hypertension.
Excess screen time is worrying trend nowadays. Screen time overloads the sensory system, fractures attention, and depletes mental reserves. Experts say that what’s often behind explosive and aggressive behavior is poor focus. When attention suffers, so does the ability to process one’s internal and external environment, so little demands become big ones.
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD
Firstly, it’s adding to your screen time if you are already spending 8-9 hours in front of a computer at work. Your screens emit blue light that can damage your eyes.
Secondly, you aren’t doing anything useful with the time you have on your hands after you’re done with your work. Science has established that fun activities, be it cooking, reading, learning something new can prevent the degeneration of brain cells. Most importantly, activities can alleviate stress and anxiety.
You could utilize the time you spend on your phone by working out. Exercise keeps both your mind and body healthy.
Thirdly, your screen addiction is slowly but surely causing a divide between you and your loved ones. Spending time with friends and family is instrumental to a healthy life because it can help you to overcome anxiety and uplift your mood.
Also Read: 10 Visual Signs You Are Actually Not Healthy: An Informative Guide to Spotting the Clues
A bad habit that is undermined but can prove to be lethal. People in urban areas usually live sedentary lives. We sit on chairs for hours on end, especially those doing 9-5 jobs. Sitting for too long can cause your leg muscles to cramp and lose tone.
Moreover, sitting for long hours at a stretch can disrupt blood circulation in your legs, this can cause Varicose veins and Deep Vein Thrombosis.
Yet another habit that is shackling you is your thoughtless craving and dependence on fast foods. They are everywhere. They are yummy and comparatively cheap- a combination that makes them irresistible. What’s worse is that many people prefer ready to cook packaged meals, which are essentially poison on a plate. You need to avoid junk food because it is bad for your heart, blood pressure, blood sugar and metabolism.
In addition, you should also quit smoking and stop drinking alcohol, two habits that have severe consequences on your health.
You can easily free yourself from these habits with a bit of awareness and strength of will. So this Independence day, take a pledge to avoid these habits and live a healthy life.
Also Read: Best Fast Food For Weight Watchers: Making Healthy Choices on the Go
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
