Think Before You Eat: The Consequences of Our Eating Habits

A little splurging on the side might make for a pleasant moment during the afternoon, but have you ever stopped to consider what those chocolate goodies or sodium-filled snacks are doing for your health?  Daily habits of eating junk food, too much food, or the right amount but the wrong foods can result in worse consequences than you might think.

Obesity

Outrageously unhealthy eating habits paired with poor physical activity can cause obesity. In order to avoid this, you should be pairing whole grains with healthy, portioned combinations of fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats and the right amount of fats alongside a form of daily, physical activity.

Broken Bones

Did you know that unhealthy eating can actually lead to broken bones? High concentrations of sugar and fewer concentrations of essential dairies (like a glass of milk per day) can deprive your bones of the essential calcium required to maintain bone health. As calcium depletes, you are at higher risk for fractures, chips and breaks, no matter what age you are (even if you are still in your 20’s).

Dental Issues

Your body relies on healthy eating, and your teeth are part of that body. Drinking too much sugar or eating too many sugar-containing products can lead to poor dental health over time, which may lead to issues such as tooth decay, gum disease and nerve damage.

Chronic Illness

Eating too much sugar has been proven to cause Type 2 Diabetes. On top of the risk for this troublesome disease, individuals with unhealthy eating habits can suffer from other chronic illnesses such as sleep apnea, gall bladder disease and joint problems.

Life-Threatening Conditions

As if the other consequences of unhealthy eating were not enough, perhaps the fact that a life-threatening ailment can occur will help you think twice about your bad eating habits. People with unhealthy eating habits are ten times more likely to develop atherosclerosis, which is a disease that affects the arteries around the heart. Furthermore, those with unhealthy diets often have high blood pressure and cholesterol, which paired with atherosclerosis significantly, increases their chance for heart attack.

Eating a piece of oozy chocolate cake or biting into a Butterscotch might seem like a delicious choice for an afternoon treat.  However, it’s not the right choice for your long-term health.  Next time you grab that sugary sweet from the vending machine, stop and think of the consequences.  Pretty soon you’ll be considering a crunchy carrot a much better alternative.